Uprooting Three Roots of Premillennialism

By Ron Daly

Premillennialism, in its abbreviated form, is the system of religious teaching that says Christ will personally and bodily return to the earth the second time, in order to establish his kingdom, and reign for a literal thousand years. Three of the most important roots of the premillennial tree are (1) the personal bodily return of Jesus to the earth, (2) the establishment of his kingdom which is yet future, and (3) a literal reign on earth for one thousand years. If these three roots are uprooted the entire system dies, regardless of the other intricately woven and often complex details of the theory.

First, according to the sacred scriptures there is no need for Jesus to ever return to the earth again. There is no mission that his Father has given him that necessitates coming back to earth! The premillennial theory denies the efficacy of Jesus' work the first time he was on earth. Premillennialists say there is work that remains to be done by the Lord. The Lord himself says, "Not so!" Jesus spoke the following words to his Father, "I glorified you on the earth, having finished the work you gave me to do." (Jno. 17:4) Let's ask ourselves a few questions based on this passage: Who did he glorify? His Father. Where did he glorify his Father? On the earth. How did he glorify his Father? By finishing the work the Father gave him to do. According to the Lord he glorified the Father the first time he was on the earth. So, why should he return to the earth again? He also said he "finished the work" the Father gave him to do. We may conclude therefore that there is not one single thing remaining for Jesus to do that necessitates a return to the earth. Jesus finished (Grk. teleioo) his work on earth. The Greek word teleioo means to complete something in the sense that nothing is missing, nothing is lacking, all has been accomplished.

Second, we are specifically told in scripture that when the "day of the Lord" comes, "the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire...all these things are thus to be dissolved...the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire." (2 Pet. 3:10-12) There will be no earth on which to set foot. Furthermore, Paul wrote, "...the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thess. 4:16-17) No descension to the earth is mentioned in this text. No setting foot on the earth is mentioned. It plainly says the righteous living and dead will be caught up, and will meet the Lord in the air.

Third, why does the Lord need to return to the earth to set up his kingdom? The kingdom of Christ was established during the days of the apostles. Paul, speaking to Christians said, "He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son." (Col. 1:13) You can't be transferred into that which doesn't exist! John the apostle wrote, "I John, your brother and partner in the persecution and the kingdom and patient endurance in Jesus." (Rev. 1:9) Is Jesus not aware that his kingdom is already in existence? Both John the Immerser and Jesus preached, "the kingdom of heaven is near." (Mat. 3:2; 4:17) The apostles and evangelists in the first century preached it as having been established. (Acts 8:12; 28:30-31)

Fourth, why does the Lord need to return to the earth to reign? The word of God teaches he is reigning now. In Acts 2:29-36 Peter said Christ was raised to sit on David's throne. Peter also said Jesus is sitting at God's right hand. This is evidence that God "has made him both Lord and Messiah." If he is on David's throne, and if he is at God's right hand, then David's throne is at God's right hand in heaven, and not on the earth and never will be.

Finally, someone might ask, "Okay, what about Revelation 20:4 which says, "And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years?" (ASV) The "thousand years" in the text is no more literal than seeing the "souls of those who had been beheaded" in the same verse. Furthermore, nothing is said in the passage about a reign on earth!

To use the words of John the Immerser, "the axe has been laid to the root(s) of the trees." (Mat. 3:10) There will be no personal bodily return of Jesus to the earth, no future reign of Christ on the earth, and no literal thousand years to get it all done. & (from Ron Daly’s Blog)

Who Is Guilty?

By Gilbert Alexander

Can a man living today exonerate the unbelieving Jews of Jesus' day regarding their responsibility in the death of Jesus Christ? A news release from the Vatican City states that the current pope of the Catholic Church has made a "sweeping exoneration" of the Jewish people then and today in a new book soon to be released. Can a man who claims "infallibility" rightly contradict the Scriptures and the direct statements of the Apostles, including Peter, whom the Catholic Church erroneously claims to be the first pope? Let us hear what God has said.

Jesus "came unto His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:11,12). People became such by the new birth (John 1:13; 3:3-7). Jesus said that "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles..." (Mark 10:33,34). On Pentecost, Peter addressed "Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:22). He charged them concerning Christ, "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death" (Acts 2:23). He further said, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). A short time later, a crowd of Jewish people, "men of Israel ," were witnesses of a man cured of a lifelong lameness; and Peter again charged them with delivering Christ to Pilate, denying Him, and killing the "Prince of life." He said to them, "Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers" (Acts 3:11-17).

The majority of the Jewish nation at that time rejected Christ. The thousands who believed in Him were in the minority. So it is with the Jewish people of today (Romans 10:1-4). Unbelieving Jews are guilty of their own sins, just as unbelieving Gentiles are. Every person is responsible to God for his own sins, and each ne can be saved from his sins by obeying the Gospel (Romans .16,17; Hebrews.5:8,9). No papal decree can alter truth. & (via The Sower, Vol. 56, No. 2)

Would You Be Convicted?

By Bob Myhan

If being a Christian were against the law, would be charged? Would there be sufficient evidence to indict you and bring you to trial? Of course, you would confess; but what if you were tried in absentia and your court-appointed lawyer entered a “not guilty” plea on your behalf? Would you be convicted or acquitted? What evidence could be used against you? Who would wield that evidence—the prosecution or the defense?

Would “the things done in the body” convict you or acquit you? (2 Cor. 5:10) Would the words you have spoken “out of the abundance of the heart” (Matt. 12:34-37) convict you because they were “good for necessary edification” or acquit you because they were “corrupt”? (Eph. 4: 29)

When we stand in judgment before God, not only our deeds and words, but our very thoughts will be introduced into evidence (Acts 8:14-23). Would you be convicted or acquitted by your thoughts? Let us think seriously on these things. &

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10)

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Rom. 14:12)