To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 19:00:30 -0500
Subject: HF045 - The Early Christian Concept of a Millennium
Hebraics,
This is Bible study HF045 - The Early Christian Concept of a
Millennium.
I was recently asked by a member of the forum to give a Bible
study that would include some documentation on an early Church
belief in a millennium, or what is often called the 1000 year reign,
or the kingdom age of Messiah.
Interestingly enough while the Scriptures are filled with references
to an age to come that is described as peace and prosperity in all
the earth, the only direct reference we have in the Scriptures to a
1000 year reign is in Revelation. But it is equally interesting that
the concept of a 1000 year reign is taught both in Christianity, in
Judaism, in Islam, in Zoroastrianism, and in other oriental religions.
Seems this idea is deeply embedded in nearly all religions.
In this portion of our study I'll share primarily from early Church
documentation. Afterwards we can let the study run its course
through dialogue. (Depending on the interest.) Let's begin with how
early believers approached the idea of a millennium. First we need to
hear from John.
"And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key to
the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he lay hold of the
dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound
him for a thousand years; and threw him into the abyss, and shut it
and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations
any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these
things he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones,
and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw
the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the
testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who
had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received
the mark on their forehead or on their hand; and they came to life
and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead
did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This
is the first resurrection." (Revelations 20:1-5)
Notice that the term "a thousand years" is used four times. Though
the book of Revelation is filled with symbols, John seems to be
pretty clear on the issue of a thousand year period of time where
Satan is placed in captivity. But the question that we want to
answer is how did other early believers look at this idea of a
thousand year reign? Did they accept a literal one thousand year
reign, or did they simply place this teaching in Revelation as
symbolic of perhaps something else?
The answer is that nearly all the earliest Christian writers believed
in a literal thousand year reign. When I speak of the earliest
writers, I am including second and third generation disciples. This
would include those who were nearest to the apostolic age. Here
are some quotes:
#1) Reference to Papias cited by Eusebius (Papias was a disciple
of the Apostle John and a friend of Polycarp; 60-130 ad); "Among
these things, Papias says that there will be a millennium after the
resurrection from the dead, when the personal reign of Christ will be
established on this earth."
#2) Justin Martyr (c. 160); "There was a certain man with us,
whose name was John, one of the apostles of Christ, who
prophesied by a revelation that was made to him, that those who
believed in our Christ would dwell a thousand years in Jerusalem."
#3) Hippolytus (c. 205); "The Sabbath is the type and symbol of
the future kingdom of the saints, when they shall reign with Christ
after He comes from heaven, as John says in his Revelation. For 'a
day with the Lord is as a thousand years.'"
#4) Tertullian (c. 207); "We do confess that a kingdom is promised
to us upon the earth, although before heaven. Only, it will be in
another state of existence. For it will be after the resurrection for a
thousand years in the divinely-built city of Jerusalem 'let down from
heaven.'"
#5) Victorinus (c. 280); "The true Sabbath will be in the seventh
millennium of years, when Christ will reign with His elect."
#6) Lactantius (c. 340); "Back then a mortal and imperfect man
was formed from the earth, so that he might live a thousand years
in this world. So, now, from this earthly age is formed a perfect
man. And, being quickened by God, he will bear rule in this same
world through a thousand years."
#7) Irenaeus (c. 180); "The predicted blessing, therefore, belongs
unquestionably to the times of the kingdom, when the righteous will
bear rule, after their rising from the dead. It is also the time when
the creation will bear fruit with an abundance of all kinds of food,
having been renovated and set free. ... And all of the animals will
feed on the vegetation of the earth. They will become peaceful and
harmonious among each other, and they will be in perfect
subjection to man. And these things are borne witness to in the
fourth book of the writings of Papias, the hearer of John, and a
companion of Polycarp."
#8) Commodianus (240); "The Amen sends flames on the nations.
And the Medes and Persians burn for a thousand years, as the
apocalyptic words of John declare. After a thousand years, they will
be delivered over to Gehenna. And he whose work they were is
burned up with them."
This is a sampling of how very literal the earliest disciples took the
belief of a thousand year reign. There were a few such as Origen
who denied a literal reign of Christ on the earth. These were in a
minority. Origen was later charged with heresy.
However, that there was to be an age to come that precedes the
eternities of God is very much described in the Scriptures. Isaiah
is replete with descriptions of that age. Rather than go through the
many references, let's consider this one;
"The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the Arabah will
rejoice and blossom; like the crocus. It will blossom profusely and
rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be
given it the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory
of the Lord, the majesty of our God." (Isaiah 35:2)
Then we have the teaching of Jesus. In the beatitudes, the Lord
said, "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth."
(Matthew 5:5) This is a near quote from the book of Psalms; "But
the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in
abundant prosperity." (Psalm 37:11)
An important point to keep in mind is that the Bible of the early
believers was simply the writings of Moses, of David, and the
prophets, along with whatever apostolic writings had been
collected. There was no need to rewrite all that God had to say
about an age to come. The Hebrew people very much believed in a
Messianic age. Their Bible was filled with descriptions of that
certain age.
Perhaps we need to consider the word for 'age.' The Greek word is
'aion.' Aion generally refers to a unit of time. (The context
determines its usage.) The Lord seemed to have the kingdom age
in view, when he said, "The sons of this age marry and are given in
marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age
and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in
marriage; for they cannot die anymore, because they are like
angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection." (Luke
20:34-36)
This statement by Jesus ties in with that John had to say about the
resurrection and the thousand year reign. He said, "Blessed and
holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these
the second death has but they will be priests of God and of Christ
and will reign with Him for a thousand years."
Then when John speaks of thrones being set up at the end of the
thousand year reign, Paul had this to say; "Do you not know that
we will judge angels? How much more the matters of this life." (1
Co6:3)
With that I will leave the study open for discussion. One reminder.
This is not a debate forum. If you have views to share, please do
them with grace and with thoughtful presentation.
Shalom in Christ,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)