WPC _cT&'XXEV{{ۿ*j&iN@AN:gGwhՋ9vl_8TŘT^Gy}:?c톑?"#}C eZ}Wiڿߝ) c{9qٝǛH /s]8j};eKQZlт3fbۙv 0 %nT=[-H(=@A%! TheBibleisrichintypesandshadows.OnesuchexampleisgiveninHebrews11:17-19concerningAbrahamsbeliefinresurrection,wherewereadthatheaccounted thatGodwas # abletoraisehim[Isaac]up,evenfromthedead;fromwhencealsohereceivedhiminafigure  $ ( figurehereistheGreekwordtypos,meaning atype). !% Listanyotherexamplesyoucanthinkof,bothOldandNewTestament,whichdemonstrateresurrectioninatypeorfigure: TheJudgment  +'0 ThefinalprerogativeconcerningthosewhoshallberaisedisofGod.Somewillneverberaised(Psalm49:20;Isaiah26:14,43:17;Jeremiah51:39;Amos8:11-14),buttheBibletellsusthatthosewhoareregardedasresponsibleorwhounderstand(cf.Psalm49:20)willberaisedto  judgment.AstheLordJesusChristsaid:8  Nomancancometome,excepttheFatherwhich_hath_Ԁsentmedrawhim;and I L  willraisehimup atthelastday.Itiswrittenintheprophets, Andtheyshallbe <  alltaughtofGod.Everymanthereforethat _hath_Ԁheard ,and _hath_Ԁlearned of , | theFather,_cometh_Ԁuntome. h      p John6:4445 l ManyScripturesmakeitplainthat sinisthetransgressionofthelaw(1John3:4),andalsothat sinisnotimputedwhenthereisnolaw(Romans5:13).SoitisthosepeoplewhoknowGodslawtoagreaterorlesserextentwhowillberequiredtoappearatthejudgmentseatofChrist(seeRomans2:12,3:2;John12:48,15:22;James4:17).8  IchargetheethereforebeforeGod,andtheLordJesusChrist,whoshalljudgethequickandthedeadathisappearingandhiskingdom.  0  0` !!0 ` !` !0 ! !0h!!0h!h!0!!0p!!2Timothy4:1 p!p! TheJudgmenttocomeisafundamentaldoctrineofScripture"afirstprinciple(Hebrews6:2).TherighteousnessandjusticeofGodcanbeseeninHisrequirementthat weshallall[i.e.allthe ,| responsible]standbeforethejudgmentseatofChrist(Romans14:10).FindanddiscusspassagesthatshowthatboththeresponsiblegoodandbadwillberaisedtobejudgedbyJesus.Whateffectshouldtheknowledgeofthejudgmenthaveuponus?(Considerhow2Timothy4:1 t+&* continues!).Felixwasclearlytroubledbythethoughtofcomingjudgement(Acts24:25).Shouldwebe?Whatreassurancedotruebelievershave?Findanypertinentreferences.Daviddeclares: Verily,thereisarewardfortherighteous;verilyheisaGodthat_judgeth_Ԁintheearth(Psalm58:11).GodhasgivenJesusallauthoritytoexecutejudgment(John5:27).Findanddiscusspassagesthatdemonstratethatrewardsareonlygiven,whethergoodorbad,subsequenttothereturnofJesus,attheJudgment: h+&* AlthoughcaremustbetakenwhendiscerningfirstprincipleteachingsintheparablesofJesus,itisapparentthatonmanyoccasionstheyservetounderlinethetrueandunambiguousteachingofotherScriptures.FindanddiscusstheparablesthatdealwiththeJudgmentthatChristwillcarryoutathisreturn,andconsidertheexhortationthatwemustoccupyourselvesinourmastersworkuntilhecomes.Whatdoesthismeaninpractice?Romans6containsadiscourseofPaulinwhichheusesresurrectionlanguage.ItisemployedtodescribethebeginningofanewlifeinChristthroughbaptism.ClearlytheparallelsthatPauldrawswouldbemeaninglessiftherewasnoresurrection.Consider,listanddiscussthecomparisonsthataredrawninthischapter,alongwiththeir_exhortational_Ԁimport: h+&* HowcanwehelpourselvesandeachothertobeservantsofGodandnotservantstosin? ThePromise: Weshallbelikehim  $  Onlyonemanhasthusfarreceivedtherewardofimmortality:theLordJesusChrist.OurSavioursimmortalityisaguaranteeoftheimmortalitythesaintswillreceiveintheagetocome.WritingtothebelieversinPhilippi,theApostlePaulsaid:8  Forourconversation[citizenship]isinheaven,fromwhencealsowelookfortheSaviour,theLordJesusChrist.Whoshallchangeour vilebody ,thatitmaybe \  fashioned likeuntohis gloriousbody ,accordingtotheworkingwherebyheis L ableeventosubdueallthingsuntohimself.   p _Philippians_Ԁ3:2021.< Lookuptheoriginalwordsandmeaningsfortheexpressionshighlightedinbold:Whatdotheseexpressionstellusaboutthedifferencebetweenthepresentandfuturebodiesofthesaints?Discusstheimplicationsofthefactthatthesamerootusedfor fashionedinverse21isusedinthewordfor conformableinverse10. p+&* ЇIn2Corinthians5:2,Paul,describingtherewardofimmortalitythatJesuswillbringfromheaven(Revelation22:12),speaksaboutthedesireofbelieversto beclotheduponwithourhousewhichisfromheaven.Studythelanguageusedinverses14andconsideralsothemessageintherestofthechapter.WhatdoPaulswordsheretellusaboutourhope?TheApostleJohnoffersgreatencouragementtobelieverswhenhewritesofthepromisethatthesaintswillonedaybemadelikeChrist:8  Behold,whatmanneroflovetheFather_hath_Ԁbestoweduponus,thatweshouldbecalledthesonsofGod;thereforetheworld_knoweth_Ԁusnot,becauseitknewhimnot.BelovednowarewethesonsofGod,anditdothnotyetappearwhatweshallbe;butweknowthat,whenhe[i.e.Christ]shallappear, weshallbelike  \ him ;forweshallseehimasheis.Andeverymanthat_hath_Ԁthishopeinhim L _purifieth_Ԁhimself,evenasheispure.     p 1John3:13< Whatistheconnectionbetweenourneedtopurifyourselvesandtheultimategiftofimmortality?CanyoufindotherpassagesthatconnectimmortalitywiththerequirementtoleadholylivesafterthemodelofChrist?Considertheimplicationsoftheseversesforourwalk. p+&* Identifyandconsideranyfurtherpassagesthatspeakaboutthenatureofimmortalitytocome: WrestedScriptures   \ Aswelearnthroughexperience,whenwedealwithdifficultpassages,wemustalwaysobtainafirmgraspoftheplainunambiguousScripturesfirst.Withthisgrounding,wecangoontoexaminethemoredifficultpassages.TheTruthwillalwaysprevail!Theversesbelowaresometimesusedtosuggestthatthedoctrineofjudgmentissuperfluous,andthattherighteousdeadareraisedautomaticallyimmortal.AswehaveseenfromtheforegoingStudy,thiscannotbeaccepted.Consider,discussandenlargeonthefollowingtwopassages. Revelation20:5-6  X  Resurrectioncanrefertoboththeactionofbeingraisedandalsotheageinwhichthosewhohavebeenraisedareapart.Considerthefollowingreferences:Matthew22:28-30;Mark12:23;Luke20:27-36(notethatinverse35 thatworld[_ain_]ofresurrectedpeople,describesanageor #l! dispensationincontrastto thisworld[_ain_]ofverse34). $X" AnappreciationofthisusagehelpsconsiderablywhenexaminingthelanguagefoundinRevelation20:5-6.The firstresurrectionmayrefertoadispensationandnottheprocess.Theword partinverse6istheGreekword_meros_andmeans portion(cf.22:19).Thefaithful '#& whoreceiveorinheritapartinthisageof theraisedoneswillobviouslynotbesubjecttothe seconddeath. h+&* StudythelanguageandcontextofRevelation20:56,andtrytoestablishitspositivemeaning: 1Corinthians15:52    Theresurrectionispresentedsometimesasthewholeprocess,viewedfromtheperspectiveofthetruebelievershope(e.g. theresurrectionofthejustinLuke14:14,or theresurrectionof   lifeinJohn5:29),eventhoughitisplainfromotherbiblicalpassagesthatresurrectionandsubsequentJudgmentareinvolved.Thechapterunderconsiderationdemonstratesthecontrastsbetweenthepresentcorruptiblestateandfutureincorruptiblestate.Itisdealingwithabsolutesandisnotprimarilyconcernedwiththestepbystepmethodofchangefromonestatetothenext.Bearingthisinmind,suchversesas42and52,whichread thedeadshallberaisedincorruptible,canbeseentobespeakingoftheultimatestate(i.e.thatthefaithfulwillberaisedtoultimateincorruption).Notethatverse53 4 goesontosay forthismortalmustputonimmortality( putonhastheidea toinvestor tosinkinto).Themortalstatebeingreferredtoheremaywellbespeakingofthepost-resurrectional,butpre-judgmentstateoftheindividual,whomaythenafterjudgmentreceiveimmortality.Tabulateallthecontrastingexamplesgiveninthischapter,anddiscussfurtherthoughtsonthissubjectastobothhow1Corinthiansshouldandshouldnotbeused: h+&*     JMXX5ITherewardoftherighteous#X5IXMJ#    Lookingtothepasttoseethefuture  L ThewritertotheHebrewsdeclaresthatGod isa_rewarder_Ԁofthemwhodiligentlyseekhim(Hebrews11:6).Jesushimselfhaspromisedhisservants: behold,Icomequickly;andmyrewardiswithme,togiveeverymanaccordingashisworkshallbe(Revelation22:12).Aswewouldexpect,thissamemessagerunsthroughtheOldTestamentaswell.TheprophetIsaiahsaid: Behold,theLordGodwillcomewithstronghand,andhisarmshallruleforhim;behold,his  8 rewardiswithhim,andhisworkbeforehim(Isaiah40:10).Thecentralfocusoftherewardof  $ therighteousisthepromisedKingdomofGod.TheBiblespeaksofafuturegloriousageinwhichGodslawswillbetheorderoftheday,andinwhichJesuswillrulewith powerandgreatglory(Matthew24:30).StayingwithinthepagesofIsaiah,wereadofGodsoriginalplanfortheearth: Forthus_saith_theLordthatcreatedtheheavens;Godhimselfthatformedtheearthandmadeit;he_hath_ \  establishedit,hecreateditnotinvain,heformedittobeinhabited(Isaiah45:18).Thisleavesusinnodoubtthattheplaceofrewardforthefaithfulistobetheearth"arejuvenatedearth.Itisnosurprisethereforethatwereadthatwhile therighteousshallneverberemoved...thewickedshall not inhabittheearth(Proverbs10:30).  \ Toobtainanideaofwhatthefuturerewardwillbelike,weturnbackfirsttoboththebeginningofhumanhistory,secondtothe_Abrahamic_ԀPromisesandthirdtotheKingdomofGodinIsrael.ThedescriptionwehaveoftheGardenofEdenbeforeAdamandEvesfallfromgrace(Genesis2),offersacompellingglimpseofthepeace,fertilityandmansharmonywithhisCreatorthatwillcharacterizethecomingKingdomAgeandbeyond.WehavealreadyseenhowChrist,whileonthecross,usedtheterm paradisetodescribetheKingdom(Luke23:43).Abrahamwaspromisedtheworld(Genesis13:1417),andthiswillbefulfilledultimatelyinthefuture.Finally,theKingdomofGodhasalreadyexistedinalimitedwayduringthedaysofancientIsrael(1Chronicles29:23).DiscussinmoredetailwhatwecanlearnaboutthecomingKingdomofGodfrom:TheGardenofEden "H   D+&) ThePromisestoAbraham  TheKingdomofIsrael(andlaterJudah) $ t  TheKingdom:onearth  \ ItgoeswithoutsayingthattheKingdomofGodinthepastwasonearth.TheBibleisclearthatthiswillbethecasewiththeKingdomofGodinthefutureaswell.TheLordsprayercontainssomeofthemostwellknownwordsspokenbyJesus.Thesecondverseofthisprayerisarguablythemostfamous:8  Thykingdomcome.Thywillbedone inearth ,asitisinheaven.4    `     h      p Matthew6:10Thesewordsarerecitedbymillionseveryweek,butarealmostalwaysneitherunderstoodnorbelieved!IsthereanywayinwhichChristswordsherecannotrefertoaliteralkingdomonearth?FindotherpassagesthatdemonstratethattheKingdomwillbeestablish onearth (savepassages \  thatteachmoreexplicitlythatChristwillreturntoearthforbelow): p+&* ЇThroughouthisministry,JesusproclaimedtheKingdomofGod.Insomeexamples,theexpression Kingdomof heaven isemployed.UsingexamplesfromtheBible,explainhowwe  knowthatthesetwoexpressionsrefertothesamething.Explainalsothesignificanceofthepreposition ofin Kingdom of heaven.Finally,doestheexpression Kingdomofheaven x occurthroughouttheNewTestament?Ifnot,whynot?WehavejustreadintheApocalypsetheencouragingwordsofChrist: Behold,Icomequickly;andmyrewardiswithme,togiveeverymanaccordingashisworkshallbe(Revelation22:12).   NoticethattherewardisdependentonJesuscomingagaintotheearth.FindasmanyreferencesasyoucanthatshowthatJesuswillliterallyreturntotheearth:InJohn3:13wereadthat noman_hath_Ԁascendeduptoheaven.ThissimultaneouslyaffirmsthescripturalteachingthattheKingdomwillbeonearthandcontradictsunbiblicalideasthatthesaintsgotoheaven.Menandwomendonotleavetheearthforheaven;instead,whentheKingdomisestablishedandGodsabsoluteruleisextendedtotheKingdomsofmen,heavencomestoearth.Putanotherway,wedontgotoheaven;heavencomestous.Findotherversesthatshowthatmansplaceisonearth,notheaven: p+&* Ї TheGospelandthehopeofIsrael   ThepromisesgiventoAbraham,IsaacandJacobareattheverycentreoftheGospelmessage(_Galatians_Ԁ3:8).ItisofcourserighttoseetheultimatefulfilmentofthesepromisesbeingrealisedinJesus, thesonofDavid,thesonofAbraham(Matthew1:1),butweshouldnotoverlookthesignificanceofthepromisestoAbrahamhimself.Concerningthelandthroughwhichhehadjustwalked,itisstatedbyGodtoAbraham: Iwillgiveituntothee(Genesis13:17).FindtheplaceswherethesamepersonalpromiseismadetoIsaacandJacob.Howdowebecome heirsaccordingtothepromise?ConsiderthefollowingtwoinspiredcommentariesonthePromises:8  [God]gavehimnoneinheritanceinit,nonotsomuchastosethisfooton;yet  \ hepromisedthathewouldgiveittohimforapossession,andtohisseedafterhim.     `     h      p Acts7:5(Noticethatthispassagesaysthepromisewouldbegiven  tohim ).  8  Thesealldiedinfaith,nothavingreceivedthepromises,buthavingseenthemafaroff. `     h      p Hebrew11:13p HowdothesecommentarieselaborateonthePromisesgiveninGenesis?Beforeheascendedintoheaven,theApostlesaskedJesus: Lord,wiltthouatthistimerestoreagainthekingdomtoIsrael?(Acts1:6).TheApostlesunderstoodthatwhenJesushadbeenpreachingtheKingdomofGod,hewasreferringtosomethingwithdistinctlyIsraeliteassociations.Theuseoftheword againclearlydemonstratesthatIsraelhadbeenregardedasGodskingdombefore. l+&* ЇItisatremendousthemethatspanstheOldTestament.IsraelhadalawprovidedbyGod,alandgivenbyGod,andathrone,onwhichthechosenoneofGodwouldrule.Aswereadin1Chronicles28:5: he_hath_ԀchosenSolomonmysontosituponthethroneof thekingdomofthe  Lord overIsrael.ThepeaceandprosperityexistinginthetimeofSolomonisparticularly x appropriateinitsrepresentationofGodsfuturekingdom.ThisthroneofDavidandofSolomonwasofcourseinJerusalem,thecitythattheLordwill chooseagain(Zechariah2:12). T  FindreferencesthatdemonstratethatJerusalemistobethefuturecapitaloftheworld.FindalltheexamplesthatshowthatJesusistosituponthethroneofhisfatherDavidinJerusalemwhenherulesoverthenationsinhisKingdom.FindsomepropheticpassagesofScripturethatspeakoftheJewsreturningtoIsraelinthelatterdays: p+&* ЇUsingscripturalevidence,explainwhythereturnoftheJewsinthetwentiethcenturygivesushopethattheKingdomwillsooncome._Ezekiel_Ԁchapters40-48supplyuswithadetailedpictureoftheTemplethatistobebuiltinIsraelintheAgetocome.FromthesechapterswealsolearnthatanimalsacrificeistobereintroducedasameansofinstructiontothemortalpopulationduringthemillenniumconcerningtheprinciplesofredemptioninChrist.FindotherpassagesthatspeakofliteralworshipandsacrificeintheKingdom: TheKingdomanditspeople  (#' DuringthemillennialreignofChrist(Revelation20:46),therewillbetwogroupsofpeopleontheearth:theimmortalisedsaintsandthecontinuingmortalpopulation. h+&* TheservantsofChristaredescribedasa kingdomofpriestsinRevelation1:6.FindanddiscussthepassagesthatrefertothesaintsreigningwithChrist(inboththeOldandNewTestaments),andhowtheyaretohelpinrulingthepeopleoftheearthduringthisthousandyearperiod.Note:somearguethattheword oninRevelation5:10shouldbetranslatedas over,tosuggesttheChristandthesaintswillrulefromheaven.Asidefromthefactthatotherpassagescontradictthisinterpretation,thesameGreekphrase_epi_Ԁ_tos_Ԁ_gos_( ontheearth)appearselsewhereinRevelation L  (including5:13)andwithalloftheseotherexamplesthephrasemustmean ontheearth,whichshowsthatthe_KJV_Ԁrenderingiscorrect.Clearlytherewillbealotofgroundtocoverinbringingabout therestitutionofallthings(Acts3:21).ListallthereferencesyoucanthatdemonstratethatthenationsoftheworldwillbesubjecttothereignofJesusandbeinstructedbyhim.Whatistohappentothosenationsthatchoosetoignorehisrule?Findreferencestosupportyouraccount. h+&* Ї Themessageoftheprophets   TheHebrewprophetsarefullofmessagesofhopeabouttheKingdomAge.Theprophet_Habakkuk_Ԁwrote: FortheearthshallbefilledwiththeknowledgeofthegloryoftheLord,as  thewaterscoverthesea(_Habakkuk_Ԁ2:14;cf.Numbers14:21;Isaiah11:9;Psalm72:19).This t isthetimethattheprophetlookstowhenthe visionshallcomeor,inthewordsofHebrews,when hethatshallcomewillcome(Hebrews10:37).Danielspeaksofamountainthat filledthewholeearth(Daniel2:35;cf.7:27;Revelation11:15),representingthesubjugationofthe 8  kingdomsofmenundertheruleofGodandofHisChrist.WearesuppliedwithavarietyofScripturesthatspeakofcomingfruitfulnessoftheearth,asitbroughtundertherighteousandbenevolentruleofChrist.OneofthemostwellknownoftheseisIsaiah35:1: Thedesertshallrejoice,andblossomastherose,apassagethatalmostcertainlyhasbothliteralandsymbolicmeanings.Findotherpropheticpassagesthatgiveusinsightsintothisgloriouscomingage: OtherNewTestamentteaching  D! Therewardoftherighteousisoftenexpressedas eternalor everlastinglife.ThisisamajorthemeparticularlyintheGospelrecordofJohn.ThesamelanguagewasfoundinconnectionwiththepromisesgivenbyGodtothe fathersstyled theeverlastingcovenant(Genesis17:7,8,13,19).Thisrewardistobereceivedin thelandofCanaan(Psalm105:9-11).LookuptheGreekadjectivetranslated eternaland everlastinganddefineitsmeaning:WhatelseintheNewTestamentisdescribedas everlasting? h+&* ЇJesuscamepreachingthe kingdomofGod(Mark1:4).Thiscontinuedafterhisresurrectionaswell(Acts1:3).TheApostlestookupthiscentralmessagebyteaching thethingsconcerningthekingdomofGodandthenameofJesusChrist(Acts8:12,14:22,19:8,20:25,28:23,28:31).Fromtheseexamples,aswellasotheroccasionsinPaulsepistles,itismadeclearthatourlivingnowwillaffectwhetherwewillreceivetherewardofaplaceinthatKingdom.FindanddiscussthosevirtueswhichmustbemanifestedamongusnowinordertohaveahopeoflifeinthispromisedKingdom.Consideranddiscusstherewardsthataredescribedintheletterstotheseven_ecclesias_ԀinRevelation.Whataretheserewards,anddotheyspeakofsomethinginheavenorontheearth?TheparallelsbetweenthegardenofEden,andtherestoredearthinRevelation22areremarkable.Isthisjustcoincidence,orarewebeingtoldthatEdenistoberestoredonearth?Listtheseparallels. h+&* Ї ThePromise: themeekshallinherittheearth   ThusitisthatGodhaspromisedHissaintsthattheywill,alongwiththefaithfulofold,inheritanearthrestoredtoitsoriginalintendedglory.Thisimpliesthatsomeworkwillhavetobedonetoreversethedestructionbroughtupontheearthbythecarelessactionsofmankind.Thisrestoredearthisourhope,andwemustpraydailythattheKingdomwillsooncome.Letsspendafewmomentsconsideringthepromiseoftheworld.Bydoingthis,wewillbetterappreciateGodsGraceandmoreearnestlydesiretheKingdom.ItisinstructivethatonthreeoccasionsJesususestheword inheritwhenspeakingoftherewardofthefaithful:8  Andeveryonethat_hath_Ԁforsakenhouses,orbrethren,orsisters,orfather,ormother,orwife,orchildren,orlands,formynamessake,shallreceiveanhundredfold,andshall inherit everlastinglife. p      x    Matthew19:29  8  Blessedarethemeek:fortheyshall inherit theearth.t    `     h      p Matthew5:58  ThenshalltheKingsayuntothemonhisrighthand, Come,yeblessedofmyFather, inherit thekingdompreparedforyoufromthefoundationoftheworld.(x    `     h      p Matthew25:34Ifweputthesepassagestogether,wecanseethatthefaithfulwillinherit1)everlastinglife2)onearth3)inGodsKingdom.Discusstheimplicationsofthefirstquotationconcerningourlivestoday,andthesacrificesweshouldbewillingtomake.Inthesecondpassage,JesusisquotingfromtheBookofPsalms.FindtheothersixoccasionsinthesamePsalmthatdeclarethesametruth: t+&* ЇWhataretheimplicationsforusnowofthemeeknessrequiredbyGodinMatthew5:5?Examineanddiscussfurtheraspectsoftheparablequotedfrominthethirdpassage:ConsiderinalltheseexamplestheresponsibilitiesofthedisciplesastheywaitfortheirLord:DiscusshowthehopeoftheKingdomcanmotivateusnow,andhelpustoovercomethetrialsandtemptationsofthislife.Considertheexamplesgiveninthescriptureswhereclearlythefaithfulwereencouragedbywhattheysawastherewardaheadofthem(cf.Hebrews12:1-2). D!  h+&* Ї WrestedScriptures   TheMillennium,orKingdomofGod,isoneoftheplainestandmostprominentteachingsinthepagesofScripture.Theterm MillenniumcomesfromRevelation20:46,whereweseeanexplicitreferencetothethousandyearreignofChristonearth(cf.Revelation5:10).The t expressionliterallymeansa thousandyears,andcomesfromtheLatin_mille_(thousand)and ` _annus_(year). L  Nevertheless,whilethebiblicalteachingandtermitselfspeakofaliteralthousandyearsonearth,manymainstreamChristianshavedeviatedtodifferentdegreesfromthisoriginalteaching.Inourdiscussionswiththosewhorejectthescripturalteaching,itishelpfultoknowwhattheotherpositionsare.ThereareactuallyfourmainviewsoftheMillennium;obviously,onlyoneofthesecanbetrue. ThefourviewsoftheMillennium    First,whensomeintheearlyChurchbegantobelievethatthereturnofChristhadbeendelayed(fromtheirperspectiveonly,ofcourse),thetheoryofthe spiritualmillennium wasproposed.   Thisideaisbasedonmystical,allegoricalinterpretation,andholdsthattheKingdomofGodisrealised withinapersonwhenChristreigns spirituallyinapersonsheart.Second,whentheChurchbecametheRomanEmpireunderConstantineinthefourthcenturyAD,apostateChristendomhadnotroubleseeingtheKingdomofGodfulfilledintheinstitutionalstateChurch.Thisviewisassociatedwithwhatiscalled _amillennialism_ "thatis,thattherewasnoneedto $t lookforaliteralmillennialKingdomtocome(hencetheterm,whichmeans nomillennium).Third,inavariationof_amillennialism_,someseventeenthandeighteenthcenturytheologiansbegantoproposetheschemeof post_millennialism_ ,whichsuggeststhattheChurchitselfwill ( setuptheMillenniumandthatChristwillonlyreturnatorneartheendofthisperiod.ThetermderivesitsmeaningfromthefactthatitholdsthatChristreturnsafter(post)theMillennium.  Hence,post_millennialists_ԀareofteninvolvedinpoliticsinanattempttobringaboutwhattheybelievetobeaChristiansociety.Thebiblicalteaching,andthatheldbytheearliestChristians,is _premillennialism_ :Christreturns d  beforetheMillenniumtosetitup.ThisistheliteralsenseofRevelation20:46,andthe T! _unmistakeable_Ԁmeaningof2Timothy4:1,alongwiththerestofthemultitudeofbiblicaltextsthatteachtheKingdom.TheestablishmentoftheKingdomisonGodshands;thus,wemakenoattempttobringitaboutbyourownefforts.ThisisconsistentwiththebiblicalteachingthatourKingdom isnotofthisworld(John18:36). Luke17:21  &,"% Thechief prooftextofthosewhobelieveinaspiritualmillenniumisLuke17:21,whereChristsays(inthe_KJV_): thekingdomofGodiswithinyou.LookingatthecontextandtheuseofthislanguagehereandelsewhereintheBible,demonstratethatthisviewisinconsistentwiththesoundandconsistentteachingoftheWordofGod. x+&* ЇWhatdoyouthinkChristmeantwhenhemadethisstatement?Whenyouprovideyouraccount,considerthefollowing:towhomwasChristspeaking?is withinyouthebesttranslation?isthepronoun youin withinyousingularorplural? John14:13  4 Astandardcorollarytothe_amillennial_Ԁposition,whichdoesnotenvisionaliteralMillenniumwithChristreigningonearth,istheideathatthesaintsarerewardedinheaven.Indeed,forthosewhoacceptthisposition,theKingdomisinheaven.ChristswordsinJohn14:13arestillusedbymanytodemonstratethattherewardofthefaithfulinvolvesgoingtoheaven.Dohiswordsinthispassageactuallyteachthis?Explain.Lookatthepassagecarefully.Lookuptheword mansioninverse2andcompareverse23. h+&* ЇWhatisitthatisbeingpreparedandbywhom?Whatdoesthephrase Iwillcomeagainmeanandwhatisitsrelevanceinthiscontext?Whenandwherearethefaithful receivedbyJesus?Considertheabovepointstogetherwithyourownandarriveatameaningfulinterpretationofthispassagewhichisconsistentwiththerestofscripturalteachingconcerningtherewardoftherighteous.