All Scripture is breathed
out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
This week marks (meeting Monday nights) the final week of my D-Group's study of Revelation - using Stephen Witmer's commentary and study guide. For this week's study, we are collapsing the Epilogue (week 11) and the Summary/Conclusion (week 12) into a single week. For today, I start my viewing of the video An Evening of Eschatology. Eschatology is simply defined as "last things" or Biblical end times. The talk examines three different perspectives on Biblical end times, including:
- "Premillennialism (represented by Jim Hamilton): The return of Christ happens before (pre-) the thousand-year reign of Christ, which is a reign of the risen Christ on the earth."
- "Amillennialism (represented by Sam Storms): The return of Christ happens after the thousand-year reign, a reign that occurs in heaven, in the intermediate state, and not upon the earth. Those who have died in faith and entered into the presence of Christ share his rule and reign during the current church age in which we now live."
- "Postmillennialism (represented by Doug Wilson): The return of Christ happens after (post-) the thousand-year reign, which corresponds to the Christian age, and the reign of Christ from heaven leads the church to triumph by and through the gospel to such an extent that the Great Commission will be successfully fulfilled, and the Christian faith will pervade all the cultures of all the nations of men. All Christ’s enemies will be subdued in this way, with the exception of death, which he will destroy by his coming."
The focus of all of these views is the period in Revelation 20 where Satan is bound for a thousand years - the millennium. According to DesiringGod.com, Revelation 20 is the "only place in the Bible where the length of this period is mentioned." All of the views above share a common thought that the thousand years referred to as the millennium is not "an exact number" but instead "symbolic of a very long time."
As I start my effort to unpack and I must reinforce for myself Paul's writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that all scripture - including Revelation 20 and how we are to interpret it - "is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God that You provide Your Word - as it is a lamp unto my feet, and I KNOW it is profitable! I am better off because of Your Word. Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of Your love and blessings of Your Word. My sin is daily and I know it will continue until that moment when I die and meet You face to face. Please forgive me Jesus for my sin Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
