The Latin Word Millennial Along With The Word Rapture & Seven Year Tribulation ~ Are Not In The Bible
Why is this important? Because these Latin words have steeped Christian belief systems into a swirling cauldron of false teaching. The Bible uses many words to explain things to us. Why should we focus on words and teachings not contained in the Bible?
Doesn’t it seem like it is dangerous to create unauthorized substitutions, instead of adhering to the actual words in the Bible? Why would anyone need to swap or switch the words around? Or add words? Or take words away? There is no proxy. These are concepts, and alterations in the original text that do not come from God. You can sugar coat it, or try to gallantly explain it away, but you cannot claim these words exist in the Bible.
In the previous post about the rapture, I wrote about the original languages of the Bible as being primarily in Hebrew and Greek. We are not supposed to add anything to, or take anything away from the Bible. Those who do will be punished when the final judgment day comes.
Almost all Christian theology revolves around beliefs in either pre-millennialism, post-millennialism or a-millennialism. When you consider these words are confusing to most people, and like the word rapture, they are not in the Bible, why focus on them? Why make them central to Christian eschatology?
We do know God is not the author of confusion, so we can assume this is meant to deter people from the truth, not help us to understand the truth. Instead these different versions of belief systems are offered up like cheese on a platter. Like it is perfectly okay to sample Biblical oddities, and pick one of them as your favourite. In reality, there is no selectivity on our part, regarding what we might choose to pluck, or to reject from God’s word. It is a fool’s errand leading to a precipice into the abyss. Truth is what it is, not what we decide we want it to be.
The truth of what this refers to is based on the Biblical description of Christ’s return to earth, also known as the second coming. The Bible tells us Christ will reign on this earth for a thousand years. I realize the Latin word millennium means a thousand, but since it is not used in the Bible, and has created a great deal of confusion, personally I think we should stick to the promise of a thousand year reign.
If we adhere to what it actually does say in the Bible, we do not get ensnared with all the terminology surrounding millennialism. If you look up a-millennialism it is described as a chillegoristic eschatological version of the Bible. What that actually means is that the thousand year reign of Christ is viewed as metaphor, or figurative language.
The Bible has a mixture of literal and metaphorical language to help us understand what was, what is, and what is to come. Even as small children we are able to differentiate between reality and metaphor. I remember the summer I turned three years old, and I worriedly told a neighbour about something my brother had said. She replied, “Oh, he is just pulling your leg”. Then later I heard our mother say, “Don’t let him pull the wool over your eyes”. In both cases, I understood what they meant. From then on, I was quite aware of the use of figurative language. It made sense, and it expanded my understanding in a simple way.
It does not mean all language is figurative or metaphorical. It just means we learn language to include some metaphor, or figurative language, in both speech and writing, as well as in what we read. It does not mean we apply it to all language, and most certainly not all language in the Bible. Some people adamantly believe the Bible is entirely literal, and others believe it is entirely metaphorical. Yet those same people do not view all language as being one or the other. In fact, we would have very limited comprehension of any language, if we did not learn to differentiate figures of speech.
I do not interpret a thousand year reign as being metaphorical, because there is nothing metaphorical about it. Some people will claim it is metaphorical based on a verse such as this one: 2 Peter 3:8 KJV “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
However, that verse is describing what a thousand years is to God, not us. The Bible does not say a thousand years to man, is as one day. To use such a verse to obliterate the thousand year reign of Christ is an incredible twist of scripture.
The belief systems that revolve around the cancellation of the thousand year reign of Christ cannot possibly be the truth, and are in direct contradiction to what the Bible does say. Even the Lord’s prayer, which most Christians recite thousands of times throughout a lifetime says, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”
Other arguments claiming the thousand year reign is metaphorical, will say the kingdom of God is within us, or the church is the kingdom of God, or the millennial reign of Christ has been going on since Christ was crucified and resurrected. They will say that the church will spread the gospel until it fills the whole earth, and this is what the millennial reign actually means.
To say the kingdom of God is within us, could be interpreted as the Holy Spirit being within us. However, the earth is not within us, is it? The Bible clearly and explicitly says Christ will reign on the earth for a thousand years.
As far as those who claim the church, or the Christians, as being the ones who are reigning over the earth, just look at what has been happening? We are in the midst of the great apostasy. The church has fallen away, just as the prophecies said would happen. Look at the amount of false teaching. It is enough to make anyone’s head spin.
The Bible tells us Satan currently has dominion over this world. It also tells us that Christ will deal with Satan when He returns, and will throw him into prison, and lock him up for a thousand years. Does anyone speak of the millennial imprisonment of Satan? Or have versions on pre and post millennialism when it comes to his fate? Doesn’t it sound absurd? Imagine asking people if they believe in a pre or post-millennial view of Satan’s fate? Or that his existence and influence on earth is purely metaphorical?
People can believe whatever they choose to believe. There is no limit to what people choose to believe, to include a wide range of esoteric beliefs, various different gods, and outright denial of the existence of God. But if we choose to accept Christ, and believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God, then we cannot fabricate or deny what it actually says.
The description of Satan’s fate in the Bible, is tied to the same thousand years as the reign of Christ. It is literally the same thousand year time frame, because when Christ returns, He will rule the world, not Satan. There would not be a period of peace, prosperity, and goodness on this earth, if Satan was not locked up. So it does make sense. In addition, there are many verses throughout the Bible to assure us how and when Satan will be locked up for a thousand years, then after the thousand years, he will be released for a short time, and then eliminated once and for all.
The thousand year reign of Christ is also tied to the first resurrection of the believers, and the final judgement day. False teachers on this topic cannot create a forked version of one verse, without skewing all of them on the same topic. A thousand years is not metaphor in one verse, and then allegorical in another, when it is bound up in the same prophetic events.
We would be wise to rid ourselves of the pre, post and a-millennial terminology and confusion. There is no point in using those terms at all. Anyone who reads the Bible knows it says Christ will return and reign on the earth for a thousand years. He has not returned yet, He is not here now – so no one can claim He is reigning on the earth now. It is not metaphorical. How can it be?
Another very significant alteration to the Bible surrounds the Darby Scofield insertion of a seven year tribulation prior to Christ’s return. The original Bible and church leaders never taught this. But to give an indication of the subtle sleight of hand regarding this lie, is how a single word was added to change the meaning of the text in Revelation 7:14. The original KJV version is:
“14 …And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
However since the introduction of the Darby lie about “the end times seven year great tribulation” just one word was added to this text, first in the Darby Scofield translations, then in multiple other translations, which significantly changes the meaning of this verse.
NIV 7:14 “And he said, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Adding just one word gives the impression the people in white robes are those at the end of the age. But the truth is in the original text, and it means all believers throughout history who experienced tribulation, not just those at the end of the dotted line. The deception also serves to reinforce a false notion of the so called seven year tribulation, which is not found in the Bible either. One of the most devious types of falsehood, is when it is mixed with truth. One word, or even the placement of punctuation, can significantly change the meaning and context.
If you look at it in the broader context, right from the beginning, where it is described how God created the earth in six days, to all of the various descriptions about the day of rest. It is telling us, there will be a time of rest and restoration on the earth. We see the cycles of work followed by rest in many things, after the sixth day, or six years, or six thousand years. It demonstrates the completion, and rest occurring on the seventh day, or seventh year, or seven thousand year time frame. This is how we are meant to compare God’s timing, the harvest, the completion, and His ability to span things from beginning to end.
According to Christian beliefs, the earth is now around six thousand years old. It means we could be very close to the time of Christ’s return, the harvest, and thousand year period of rest, peace and restoration. This could be what it means when it says, to God a thousand years can be as one day, and one day as a thousand years.
The thousand year reign of Christ, includes locking Satan up for a thousand years, so he can no longer deceive the nations, or create havoc on the earth. In addition to this very real description of what happens when Christ returns, the Bible says the dead in Christ shall rise first, followed by the Christians or believers who are still alive.
It goes on to say the rest (unbelievers) do not live again for a thousand years. The resurrection of the believers when Christ returns, completely refutes the false rapture theology. If there was to be a pre-tribulation rapture, or escape for Christians, we would not be told the dead in Christ will rise first, since they do not need to escape. We would also not be told the Christians who are alive when He returns, will be resurrected to meet Him in the air. According to the rapture doctrine, the Christians will be gone, but that is clearly not what the Bible says.
During the thousand year reign, the Bible says there will be peace, safety and security. People will not live in fear of any person, violence, trickery, governments, or wild beasts, etc. There are many verses to describe how people will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. The nations will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore. Do people interpret that as metaphor too?
If we do not differentiate between what is, and what is not metaphor, we cannot comprehend the Bible at all. It is the same as a three year old learning about the world around them, and how to interpret language. A child is not going to comprehend much if he/she does not learn to separate literal from metaphorical language.
We can understand a metaphor such as “some things will be as chaff in the wind”. It means some things are without substance, and will be gone. In many cases, we are told if something is a parable, or a metaphor because it is preceded by “it is like” or it is “as if”. In other cases we know what is described, is a reference to something allegorical, such as the beasts in the book of Revelation. It is metaphorical, because it is intended to represent something, as opposed to giving a tangible and exact description.
I will readily admit, there are certain allegorical descriptions that are difficult to understand, and there are references to spiritual beings that are not part of the natural world. Therefore we are faced with mysteries, and are prone to misunderstand or misinterpret things.
But the thousand year reign of Christ on this earth is very clear, along with all the events surrounding it, and the consistencies in how it applies to the entire time frame, and what we can anticipate.
Don’t count on man to fill in the gaps in understanding. Don’t count on false teachers, and false doctrine, as they will deceive us, and bring a fog of confusion to our minds. And above all, don’t count on terminology and teachings that have been added, or altered, to create different meanings. Stick to what the Bible actually says. Do not hinge your belief system on words that do not even exist in the Bible.
God did not give us His word, for people to invent and insert words, and arguments that are not even there. Look up what the original Bible actually says. I use the original 1611 KJV version. Certain other translations have maintained the original wording, but there are now over a hundred translations of the Bible in the English language alone. So be wary, and when in doubt, cross reference the text with the original.
You can listen to preachers talk about, and teach about the different versions of millennialism until the cows come home, yet you will never get the milk from those cows, if you don’t seek the truth.
There is just one version of the thousand year reign of Christ. There is no pre or post millennial rapture, or multiple returns, or a secret return of Christ. Christ will return at God’s appointed time, and every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord. All people who have ever lived will know it – when He does return. Some will have great joy, and others will be full of fear. We do not have to debate or refute any portion of God’s plan. If we do not understand it, we look to His word, not baseless circuitous arguments to confuse us.
For those who sincerely believe in Christ, we believe he was here on this earth, and he died for our sins. We believe He was resurrected and is with God on His throne. We believe He will return to the earth as is promised in the gospel. How on earth did we get so off-track when it comes to His thousand year reign when He does return? It is central to our beliefs, and very important to clarify, understand and believe. Otherwise we will be deceived, and we have been given many warnings not to be deceived.
If we don’t seek and embrace the truth, we become deluded. The Bible tells us God sends strong delusion to those who abandon the truth. And after that, he turns people over to a reprobate mind, because they refuse to love the truth.
Satan seeks to confuse and deceive people, and is known as the father of lies. Of all the things God hates, lying is one of the most important errors of existence to be avoided more than anything else. Just because you want to believe something, does not make it true. Just because something might be a mainstream belief in your family, church, or teaching, so much that you dare not reject it, don’t be deceived. Search it out for yourself. Test it. Review it. Pray about it. Remember our minds are more under attack than anything else, and in order to find the truth, we have to be determined.
As Christians we are told to love one another, uphold one another, and encourage each other. There are many stumbling blocks, and snares along the way. When in doubt, test all things based on what the Bible says, and be sure to avoid all versions of the Bible that teaches false doctrine, adds to, or takes away from the original Bible.
Like many others, over the years, I have fallen into snares, and false teachings, and have stumbled more times, and in more ways than I can count. It is only by the grace of God I didn’t crash and burn long ago. One thing to be eternally thankful for is that one of God’s promises is of a sound mind 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Over time, I have learned to lean on, and trust God’s word above all else. There is no substitute for one single word from God. Forget the unbiblical, ill-conceived words like rapture and millennialism. Hold fast to the actual words God used to explain these things to us. It makes all the difference in the world!
Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West (2023). Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.