One in Messiah Congregation
What do we do with these verses?
2Thes.2[1] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,[2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.[3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
1Thes.4[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:[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 Millennium?
The word millennium is of Latin origin, meaning a thousand years
Who will reign in Jerusalem on this earth in the last days, Messiah or Anti-Messiah?
Please click on this link for the "man of sin" http://OneinMessiah.net/manofsin.htm
We read:
2Thes.2[ 4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God , shewing himself that he is God. ( no temple as of 2006 AD )
Dan.9[ 27] And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate , even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
...and many other scriptures. But don't trouble me with facts...........
-------------
It is said, the Millennium doctrine was started by , as they put it, an ungodly heretic by the name of Cerinthus, who lived in the first century.
Judaism teaches the Messiah would establish a literal, earthly kingdom and Messiah's reign would last a thousand years.
Did the idea of a Millennial reign proceed from Judaism? Did such thoughts from Judaism's imagination pass over into the so-called Christian and Messianic movements?
We are left, at this point, 2006 AD, with such a vast abyss of so-called writings and histories to view and study. I prefer to use the Word and Spirit of the Lord for my understanding and discernment.
Nowhere in the gospels did Yeshua / Jesus ever hint of a 1000 year Messianic kingdom on this earth. The apostles, in the letters, never spoke of a 1000 year Messianic kingdom on this earth.
Read: 2Thes. 2, 2Peter 3, Matthew 24, 25 just to mention some.
Revelations 20 is the only place in scripture where this doctrine stems from.
Rev.20 [ 4] And I saw thrones, ( where? does not say on this earth ) and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded ( these are martyrs ) for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years .
( where? does not say on this earth, these people are dead )
Revelations 20 sounds like Revelations 6:
Rev.6[
9] And when he had opened the
fifth seal, I saw under the altar the
souls of them that were slain for the word of God,
and for the testimony which they held:[10
] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O
Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that
dwell on the earth?[11] And
white robes were given unto every one of them; and it
was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season
, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that
should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Yeshua said:
John.8[ 23] And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above : ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
John.18[ 36] Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight , that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence .
Isa.9[[ 6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given : and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom , to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Luke.1[ 33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His ( Messiah ) kingdom there shall be no end.
1Thes.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.
------------------------------
Doctrine of chiliasm
chiliasm :
G5507
Thayer Definition: a thousand - Part of Speech: adjective
---------------------------
As you can see below, I have posted three different opinions from the Talmud. There are many Sederim ("orders", or major divisions) and tractates (books) in Talmud with the same men with their different opinions.
Talmud - Mas. Sanhedrin 97A
R. Kattina said : Six thousand years shall the world exist, and one [thousand, the seventh], it shall be desolate, as it is written, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.32
Abaye said : it will be desolate two [thousand], as it is said, After two days will he revive us: in the third day, he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.33
It has been taught in accordance with R. Kattina: Just as the seventh year is one year of release in seven, so is the world: one thousand years out of seven shall be fallow, as it is written, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day, and it is further said, A Psalm and song for the Sabbath day,34 meaning the day that is altogether Sabbath 35 and it is also said, For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past.36
The Tanna debe Eliyyahu teaches: The world is to exist six thousand years. In the first two thousand there was desolation;37 two thousand years the Torah flourished;38 and the next two thousand years is the Messianic era,39
(38) I.e., from Abraham's fifty-second year until one hundred and seventy-two years after the destruction of the second Temple. This does not mean that the Torah should cease thereafter, but is mentioned merely to distinguish it from the next era
Talmud - Mas. Sanhedrin 97b - but through our many iniquities all these years have been lost.1
-----------------------------------
Talmud - Mas. Rosh HaShana 31a
It has been taught: R. Judah said in the name of R. Akiba: On the first day [of the week] what [psalm] did they [the Levites] say? [The one commencing] The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof,2 because He took possession and gave possession3 and was [sole] ruler in His universe.4
On the second day what did they say? [The one commencing], Great is the Lord and highly to be praised,5 because he divided His works6 and reigned over them like a king.7
On the third day they said, God standeth in the congregation of God,8 because He revealed the earth in His wisdom and established the world for His community.9
On the fourth day they said, O Lord, Thou God, to whom vengeance belongeth,10 because He created the sun and the moon and will one day punish those who serve them.
On the fifth day they said, Sing aloud to the God of our strength,11 because He created fishes and birds to praise His name.12
On the sixth day they said, The Lord reigneth, He is clothed in majesty,13 because He completed His work and reigned over His creatures.
On the seventh day they said, A psalm a song for the Sabbath day,14 to wit,for the day which will be all Sabbath.15
( (15) When God shall be alone, between the end of the world and the resurrection of the dead (Rashi) ).
Said R. Nehemiah : What ground had the Sages16 for making a difference between these sections?17
No.
On the first day [the reason for the psalm said is] because He took possession and gave possession and was [sole] ruler in His world;
on the second day because He divided and ruled over them;
on the third day because He revealed the earth in His wisdom and established the world for His community;
on the fourth day, because He created the sun and the moon and will one day punish those who serve them;
on the fifth day because He created birds and fishes to praise His name;
on the sixth day because He completed His work and reigned over His creatures;
on the seventh day, because He rested.
The point at issue between them18 is whether to accept or not the dictum of R. Kattina;
for R. Kattina said: The world is to last six thousand years, and one thousand it will be desolate, as it says, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day .19 (19) Isa. II, 11.
Isa.2[ 11] The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
[17] And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day .
Abaye, however, said: It will be desolate two thousand, as it says, After two days He will revive us.20
Hos.6[
1] Come, and let us return unto
the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will
bind us up.
[2] After
two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall
live in his sight.
[3] Then shall we know, if we
follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and
he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
(19) A day of God is reckoned as a thousand years, on the basis of Ps. XC, 4, For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday; v. Sanh. 97a.
Pss.90 [4] For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
----------------------
As you can see, to many different opinions in the talmud. 1Cor.14 [33] For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace....
My advice is, let us use the Word of God to research all matters.