Life in the eternal state will be spectacular, far beyond even our best experiences in this life. Randy Alcorn, in his book Heaven, does a superb job of expanding our imaginations regarding our future life on the new earth and in the New Jerusalem. We have much to look forward to when the words of Revelation 21-22 ring true throughout the universe at a time when death, suffering, sorrow, and pain no longer exist (Rev. 21:1-4) as we explore the new earth and dwell in the most glorious city imaginable, the New Jerusalem.

In the meantime, we live in a world submerged in chaos. The fear of COVID-19 has created a culture of fear unlike anything we have ever seen. Riots and violence continue as powerful and wicked forces seek to overthrow America and eliminate the freedoms we enjoy.

Is our fate a worldwide form of Marxist government from which we will never escape? Will God judge those who kill our police, destroy businesses, and spread lawlessness and murder on our streets? Will we see the end of the despair and panic prevalent all around us?

Only premillennialism provides biblical answers to these questions. It alone provides the basis to discern the signs of the last days in which we live. It alone offers hope for our day rather than a distant and vague end-of-the-age return of Jesus that offers little comfort for our most pressing concerns or the fear that swells up inside us as we hear reports of violence around us.

Our beliefs in in a literal tribulation and millennium are not matters of stuffy theology without relevance to our lives. Premillennialism enables us to base our hopes, even our survival, on the sure foundation of God’s Word. The Bible assures us of God’s sovereignty over history as well as His coming judgment of the wickedness and violence so prevalent in our world. These beliefs, grounded in Scripture, offer us hope in a chaotic world.

We know premillennialism is true because:

The Father Cannot Break His Promise to the Son

In Psalm 2:7-8, we read this promise of the Father to the Son, “. . . The Lord said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.'” The context clarifies this as a physical rule over the nations of the world in which Jesus rules with a “rod of iron” and dashes the nations “in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:9-10). This cannot be a spiritual realm nor can it refer to the church; this remains an unfulfilled prophecy.

The millennial rule of Jesus as described in Psalm 2 is a biblical necessity because it denotes a promise of the Father to the Son. If Jesus does not reign over the nations as passages such as Zechariah 14 and Revelation 20:1-10 describe, it would signify that the Father has reneged on a promise to his Son.

Only premillennialism preserves the Father’s promise to the Son and assures us of a future kingdom in which we will reign with Jesus.

It Must Be the Future Millennium

Psalm 2:9 describes Jesus’ future rule in this way, “You shall break them with a rod of iron / and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Some versions have the word “rule” rather than “break.” Either way, does this describe Jesus’ headship over the church today or something that Jesus fulfilled with His first coming? Certainly not! This cannot be a promise for the church age.

The presence of rebellion and harsh judgment during this reign of Jesus also differentiates it from the eternal state where sin and death will no longer exist (Rev. 21:4). No other time fits with the conditions described in Psalm 2; it must be the millennium where Scripture tells us sin and rebellion will occur (Zech. 14:16-19; Rev. 20:1-10).

Only premillennialism fits with the prophetic conditions of Psalm 2.

The Original Intent of the Prophets

One cannot deny the reality of a future millennium state and at the same time interpret the prophetic words of Scripture in the way the authors intended them when they wrote them, or in the way that their original audience would have understood them at the time. Only premillennialism maintains the original intent of biblical prophets.

Take the words of the prophet Zechariah, for example. He prophesied about a time after Jesus’ crucifixion when a great number of the Israelites would repent and recognize Jesus as their Messiah. Using words that cannot apply to anyone else but those of Jewish physical descent, the prophet pictures a time of much weeping as the Jewish people recognize the one “they have pierced” as the Messiah and weep signifying their great regret and repentance (Zech. 12:10-13:1).

Those who dismiss a future physical kingdom for Israel cannot take the words of Zechariah the way the prophet intended. Instead, they must retrofit an unrelated and foreign understanding to the text that is light years away from how the faithful in Israel would have understood it at the time, or for that matter, centuries later.

If Scripture can mean one thing when written and have an entirely different sense centuries later, we would no longer be able to trust it. The use of allegory erodes both the trustworthiness and objectivity of Scripture by allowing interpreters to impose their own viewpoint on the text, interpretations that have nothing to do with the text at the time God inspired it.

Only premillennialism protects the original intent of biblical prophecy.

The Prophetic Intent of the Book of Revelation

The book of Revelation begins with these words: “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” From beginning to end, the book contains Jesus’ revelation to us, His church. Unfortunately, many today treat the book as an allegory from which they can pick and choose what is symbolic and what is not, and then decide how they will interpret it.

John’s choice of words negates the allegorical approach to the book of Revelation. The apostle uses the word “saw” 44 times by itself and 12 times with the word “looked.” He uses the word “heard” 30 times to indicate he was writing down words he heard. The apostle purposely used the words of someone communicating God’s message based on what he both saw and heard. Those writing allegory do not write as eyewitnesses to events. The apostle confirmed over and over again that he was recording future events as he saw them, writing down what he heard at a future time.

Yes, he employs symbolism and imagery in relating Jesus’ message about the future. His overriding intent, however, was to tell us specifically what he saw and heard concerning the future, especially during a time of tribulation that will come upon the world. Jesus Himself confirmed the words of the book as prophecy (Rev. 22:6).

Only premillennialism interprets the book of Revelation as future prophecy, which assures us of God’s coming judgment of the wickedness in our world.

The Allegorization of Scripture Opens the Door to Heresies

The allegorical method of interpreting Scripture, which forms the foundation of those who deny the millennial rule of Jesus, leads to a further erosion of biblical truth, and opens the door to heresy. It has done so in the past; it is happening now; it will certainly occur in the future.

In order to deny the restoration of a kingdom for Israel, one must relegate a multitude of Old Testament prophecies regarding the future of Israel to allegory. Such interpretations diminish the importance of words in the Bible and thereby open the door for other biblical texts to fall victim to allegory.

The church in the United Kingdom exemplifies how amillennialism morphs into further false beliefs and errors. I receive several e-mails from a great number of premillennialists who live there, and many there receive my newsletters. However, I also know that many leaders and pastors in the Church of England have long since rejected this teaching in favor of false viewpoints that deny the prophetic significance of Israel and her future restoration.

A pastor once used the church in the United Kingdom as proof that I should give up my premillennialism. He scoffed when I told him that amillennialism always leads to further false teaching.

During January of 2020, churches in Scotland and England disinvited Franklin Graham to speak because of his views on the LGBTQ agenda. Bryan Kerr, a Church of Scotland pastor in Lanark, said this, “Franklin Graham isn’t the voice of Christianity.” The path to such a misguided statement began with a denial of the restoration of Israel, AKA amillennialism, which led to such a great erosion of the integrity of Scripture.

Once a teacher or pastor treats future biblical prophecy as allegory, others eventually apply this methodology to other scriptural texts. This expansion of allegorical interpretations to other texts eroded the purity of the Gospel during the dark ages, and it’s happening again in our day.

Only premillennialism guards the integrity of all the words of Scripture.

The Dismissal of Biblical Prophecy Redirects the Focus of Believers to the Temporal

Those who deny what the Bible teaches about the millennium and tribulation believe the next prophetic event is Jesus’ return at the end of this age to wrap things up, judge humanity, and initiate the eternal state. They give lip service to the imminency of Jesus’ return, but neither they nor those listening to them really believe this could happen in their lifetime or during that of their grandchildren or great grandchildren.

As a result, they focus on the things of this world rather than on eternity. “Why watch for Jesus’ return if it’s still centuries away? Why adopt an eternal outlook on life if I expect to live a lengthy life and then go to be with the Lord after I die? I have plenty of time to think of eternity when I am old.”

In stark contrast to such a mindset, the biblical perspective conveys a message of imminency regarding Jesus’ appearing. New Testament saints waited for Jesus’ appearing with great eagerness (1 Cor. 1:7; Phil. 3:20-21). They watched for Him to come (1 Thess. 1:9-10) just as the Lord told his followers to do (Matt. 24:44, 25:13). The Apostle Paul believed Jesus could return for him in his lifetime (1 Thess. 4:17).

I know some amillennialists maintain the Apostle Paul’s two-world perspective of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, but they are the exception rather than the norm.

Only premillennialism naturally leads to a biblical two-world perspective.

The words of Alva J. McClain in his wonderful work, The Greatness of the Kingdom, sum up the importance of a premillennial outlook on our world.

“The premillennial philosophy of history makes sense. It lays a biblical and rational basis for a truly optimistic view of human history. . . . It says that life here and now, in spite of the tragedy of sin, is nevertheless worth-while; and therefore all efforts to make it better are also worth-while. All the true values of human life will be preserved and carried over into the coming kingdom; nothing worth-while will be lost. Furthermore, we are encouraged in the midst of opposition and reverses by the assurance that help is on the way.” [i]

Only premillennialism offers hope for us in a world marked by violence and deception. It alone makes sense of our world today, encourages us to remain faithful when despair seems like our only option, and assures us of God’s sovereignty despite the chaos we see on our streets.

The Bible reveals the future formation of a totalitarian one-world government, but it also tells us that Jesus will destroy it at His second coming. The book of Revelation tells us that the Lord will severely judge the violence and evil of our day. As for us, we will be with Jesus before the Lord pours out His wrath on this Christ-hating world, only to return with Him and reign with Him in His glorious kingdom.

Jonathan Brentner

Website: Our Journey Home

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E-mail: Jonathanbrentner@yahoo.com

[i] [i] Alva J. McClain, The Greatness of the Kingdom (Winona Lake: BMH Books, 1974), p. 531.

Situation is not normal. What’s going on here?

For sure, it seems we are living in the “times of the signs.” One only needs to look around and see a world descending into complete utter chaos. A world where facts do not matter, truth doesn’t matter, life doesn’t matter, and even the rule of law doesn’t matter. It is as if the world is being given over to a delusional spirit. Not unlike what Paul wrote:

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Granted, we are not at that point yet. However, it is as if the world is being prepared and conditioned for antichrist. The adversary appears to be churning non-stop. His favorite targets, the Jews and the Christians, are dead set in the crosshairs. We believers are bombarded hourly with the unrelenting assault against our common senses, what is holy, and what God loves. The 24-hour news cycle is enough to poison our very souls to the core. There is a very real war being waged against YOU. An adversary of extraordinary power that was cunning enough to convince a multitude of an “innumerable company of angels” to rebel against Almighty God. What chance does this house of clay have against such a devil and his demons?

First let us understand who our enemy is. It is not the George Soros’s or [insert villain of the month here] of the world that are our enemies. To be sure, people can be scoundrels and influenced by demons, as well as acting accordingly as such. Paul tells us just who our foes are:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

There is something vile and wicked numbered as a “Host” with the explicit goal to KILL and DESTROY you. We must be ever alert to this fact, brethren:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Last I looked, being devoured by a lion sounds immensely unpleasurable. Peter wrote those words inspired by the Holy Spirit. Those words were not written to be a wordplay of poetics. He wrote them to be a CLEAR warning of a real threat. A threat that does not tire, does not sleep, and attacks us – mind, body, and soul – even when we are asleep.

Praise be to our Lord that He gave us His word. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

It is this WORD that sustains us “that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3b).

When Jesus was tempted in the Judean wilderness, his weapon was the Word of God. “But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD'” (Matthew 4:4).

“Jesus said to him, ‘On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST'” (Matthew 4:7).

“Then Jesus *said to him, ‘Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY'” (Matthew 4:10).

On all three occasions, Jesus said, “It is written.” You see, Jesus who is fully God and fully human, in His humanity used the written Word of God to rebuke the devil. [Hint Hint] Do you think God is giving us a lesson here?

Are you being fed? Do you read God’s Word often enough?

By reading scripture, we have established that knowing God’s word is essential food as well as a two-edged sword. We all ought to be Bible students and in His word daily. It is there that we are preparing our spiritual muscles to be of useful service to the Kingdom. If we train hard to achieve success at work, or strive to advance in our career, why is it we do not train hard or strive to be better ambassadors of Christ? Brethren, I am not writing this to shame or guilt any of you. In fact, I am just as guilty myself, if not more. Paul tells us this about all scripture:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

So, men and women of God. Are you equipped for every good work? Can you defend your faith to others? “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). Most importantly, to know the word of God is to truly know God Himself. Every word in the Bible points to one name and one person. The Lord Jesus Christ: “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Please turn off the 24-hour news cycle and crack those Bibles open! Get into HIS word! It will indeed prepare us all for what is coming.

Are you being fed? Are you in fellowship with other Bible-believing Christians?

As I started off with the chaos and woes of this fallen world, it is at a time like this that we need to rally to the challenge, and stake our lives on the Gospel message that we are commanded to share. You see, I might be some guy behind a keyboard, but more so, I am part of the same body as you (The body of Christ— the Church). If I fail my part and stumble, the entire body suffers:

“so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:25-26).

Of course, the head of the body is Christ. Paul here also displays the dependence we have on each other as well. One fact that is rather disconcerting is the fact that many of the body refuse to attend a church. I get it; I understand that many “so-called churches” are totally apostate, teach heresies, practice doctrines of demons, and bend to the will of man and not God. However, there are still a good amount of Bible-believing, God-fearing congregations out there. God commands us through scripture not to forsake the assembly. The author of Hebrews wrote:

“not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).

Did you get that? “all the more as you see the day drawing near” Dear ones, current events might suggest that “the day is near.” As one myself, I forsook the assembly for nearly a decade. I can vehemently tell you that it wreaked havoc upon my life. As a sheep, I was isolated and easy prey for the wolves. And the wolves did indeed come. I slipped away into the life of a carnal Christian. Praise be to Our Lord the Good Shepherd for HIS faithfulness in that He left the 99 for the one.

Others might have left a solid fellowship because of offense. I am quite sure you all can attest to that. Other believers at times can treat you worse than unbelievers. Always strive to reconcile and sweep up your side of the street: “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering” (Matthew 5:23-24).

Dear ones, if you are not in a Bible-believing fellowship, I exhort you to endeavor to be. We all need fellowship and accountability. It also helps to sharpen our swords. “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

“An army marches on its stomach. To be effective, an army relies on good and plentiful food.”

Brethren, it is time we feast upon God’s word. Look at the news of the day. We are needed to serve this chaotic world. To be effective ambassadors of Christ, we MUST be well fed. Just as a soldier trains with a rifle, we must sharpen our sword (the Word of God). Paul (a REAL Apostle) left us a standing order to be prepared always to preach the word:

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

Sharpen those swords and gain discernment to know truth from myth. Question ALL teachings of men through the filter of scripture. Even Paul and Silas had to stand the test of the written word: “The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:10-11).

What did the Bereans do? Yes, they searched the scriptures daily. Shouldn’t we also do this? Especially in this present time of false teachers who are propagating destructive heresies. They mock God by fattening themselves off the sheep instead of feeding them.

Brethren, we are all one instant from either death or rapture. Are you ready? Are your lanterns filled with oil? The Bridegroom is coming soon. Do not let Him see His love letters to you (the Bible) sitting on the coffee table unopened…

And yet, the question remains. Are you being fed?

Shalom,

Brian Lazewski