Problems With Premillennialism

Introduction

Good morning. If you will, open in your Bibles with me to John chapter 18. John chapter 18. Sometimes the simple answer is the right answer. Many people are mystified when they look at me and then they look at me holding the hand of my wife Kashka. And they have a lot of questions. How could that happen to Kashka? But our dearly recently departed brother Earl Nos used to say, I know what happened. You found yourself a blind girl, didn’t you? And I said, Well, I’ve heard worse. Sometimes the simple answer is the best answer. Jesus is constantly teaching his disciples, as he does in chapter 18, even in front of Pilate and the Jews who were wishing to put him to death via crucifixion on the cross, that he was living in and fighting for a spiritual kingdom.

That he was not part of a coup, he wasn’t trying to take over Rome or Jerusalem even, but rather he lived for a higher purpose. The Romans, the Jews, even his disciples didn’t fully understand that when Jesus said, I am living for the spiritual realm, I am interested in saving souls.

John chapter 18 highlights that point. In verse 33, so Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus to him and said, Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered, Do you say this of your own accord? Or did others say it to you about me? And Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation, the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done? So Jesus answered and said, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, note this with me, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews, but my kingdom is not from this world. Very important embedded point there. Not only does Jesus say in verse 36, my kingdom is not of this world, what did he say would have happened if it was?

They could have fought, and more importantly, he would have never done what? Been delivered over to the Jews. So if Jesus is delivered over to the Jews, it would cement his at least consistency in saying, My kingdom is not of this world. I wasn’t living for a physical kingdom. Verse 37, then Pilate said to him, So you are a king then. And Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice, and Pilate asked him the question that we’re pondering ever since, what is truth? Now there’s really two different ways to go about understanding scriptural ideas.

It’s to take what the scripture says, as simple and plain as it may be, although difficult in practice and maybe a thorough understanding of the spiritual realm, or to try to find some different pieces and parts and pull together some conglomeration that we find more interesting or appealing. This morning I’d like for us to study the idea of that kingdom that Jesus was so firmly standing for. When Pilate said, Are you a king? Jesus didn’t say, No, you missed it. He said, I am a king. But of what kingdom, verse 35? A kingdom not of this world. There are many today who maybe don’t even know it, but believe that Jesus wasn’t fully honest about that answer. That if you’re honest with the scriptures and take them exactly for what they say in John chapter 18, we’re missing the point.

Because many who have a premillennial mindset, that is that Christ will reign for a thousand years, literally on the earth, literally in Jerusalem, and literally on David’s throne. They make the problem of either saying Jesus’ kingdom is of this world, or that there are two kingdoms, both conclusions of which are not supported by Scripture. Now, for us to understand this, though, I do want us to look and understand a little bit about how this theory is to be understood. I’m going to try to get really fancy here with this big dot. Here we go. So as you look, you have Israel in the Old Testament. If I can keep it steady. You have Israel in the Old Testament. We read a lot about Israel. We learn in Exodus that they become a people in Exodus chapter 1, the very people from Abraham’s lineage.

And there’s much said about these people. Going back to Genesis chapter 12, what were those three promises to Abraham? That of him would be a great nation, that his great nation would inherit a promised land, and that through his seed all families of the earth would be blessed. And so in Exodus chapter 1, you have the nation, but they’re working on the land. And of course, as you come to the New Testament, they’ve had the land, they’ve gone out of the land, they’ve gone back into the land in various portions at various times and in various ways, as their faith goes up and down and up and down again. And then Jesus comes. And what was the mission of Jesus? To seek and save the lost.

To establish the kingdom upon which he is king, he is priest, and to enter through it, we have to trust him as our Savior. And so as you think about this, the scripture’s pretty clear about that. But here’s the problem. With the premillennial theory, you see this phrase, the kingdom is postponed, and Christ fails. We’re going to talk about that in a moment. Did Christ actually fail? And so now you have the cross because the world was too wicked for Jesus. And so you have the church age. This was what it’s called a parenthesis period. You know, when you’re writing a sentence and you want to add clarification or just kind of put something in the middle of a thought. It wasn’t there, it’s not organic to the sentence, but you just want to add it.

You might put it in parentheses. So the church was an addition. And so, of course, why is it premillennialism? Well, here’s the millennial, the thousand year reign of Christ. But before that, you have the rapture and seven years in paradise for saints, and seven years of tribulation on earth for sinners. And guess where that comes? Before or after the thousand-year reign of Christ. Pre-before. And so, of course, then you get down after that. You have the day of judgment in which the heaven is the place for the saints to go eternally to be with God, and hell is for those sinners who have not repented and will not repent to be apart from God forever. The question is not is this a sound theory? The question is, does the Bible teach this idea of a kingdom?

1. The Idea That God’s Power Is Limited

Does it teach that Christ failed? That God’s purpose in sending Jesus to this earth had to be postponed. Do we have two kingdoms? Was Jesus wrong when he said his kingdom was not of this world? We have to answer these questions, and so as we look at some problems this morning, let’s understand first and foremost what premillennial theory is, but more importantly, what do the scriptures teach actually is the case? So the first one, the idea that God’s power is limited. Well, you look with me in Mark chapter 1. I know that was a lot of information that we’re gonna break down and go a lot slower now. If you look with me in Mark chapter 1. The scripture says something about God’s purpose. Jesus says something about his plan.

In Mark chapter 1 and verse 14, Mark says, Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God. Notice what he says in verse 15, the time is fulfilled. And the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel. So notice two phrases in verse 15. One, the time is fulfilled. Now you think about that, he’s obviously implying that there was a time that has passed, and now where is he? At the present. He’s at the time which is done, fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand. It was very near. How near was it? Look in Mark chapter 9 and verse 1. How near was the kingdom that Jesus came preaching of? How near was this kingdom upon which Jesus would be king?

Mark chapter 9 and verse 1. Notice what Jesus says to a group of disciples in the first century. He says, Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power. So in Mark chapter 9 and verse 1, Jesus tells a group of people, first of all, the kingdom of God is absolutely coming, and it’s going to come with what? It’s going to come with power. But beyond just the kingdom coming with power, when would it come? He didn’t say Monday. He didn’t say after the fourth rain shower, or what we call that in Florida, Monday. He said, There are some of you standing here who will not taste death until the kingdom of God has come with power.

Translation, it was going to come in the lifetime of first century individuals. Now notice, does Jesus say this is some sort of audible or plan? Back in Mark chapter 1, he said, the time is fulfilled. Here, Jesus said, here’s the plan. The kingdom of God is going to come, and it’s going to come with power. And so the question is, did the kingdom actually come with power? Because if so, we see Jesus reigns as king now. If not, maybe there was a parenthesis period. In Acts chapter 1, we see a little bit more from Jesus’ plan. In Acts chapter 1, notice, by the way, in verse 6, in case you ever wonder if we reach a point where we stop needing to know more about God’s will, we stop needing to learn more about the will of Christ.

Verse 6 shows me very clearly there is never a time, even the most fundamental teachings need to be forgotten. The disciples who have witnessed the crucified, buried, and resurrected Lord, ask this question in verse 6. So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? Seemingly, if we take it at face value, asking, is it time for you to sit on the throne of physical Israel again? Jesus says, though, in verse 7, it is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.

So now we learn something else. They ask about the kingdom. Jesus says, you don’t get to know the time, but here’s what I will tell you in verse 8. The kingdom will come, yes, with power, Mark 9 and verse 1, and power will come, Acts 1 and verse 8. When the Holy Spirit has come upon you. The disciples asking the question. So when the Holy Spirit has come upon the disciples, it will come with power. And Jesus has already said the kingdom of God will come with power in the first century in the lifetime of those who lived in the first century. And in Acts chapter 2, we see that’s exactly what happened. When the day of Pentecost arrived, verse 1, they were all together in one place.

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as a fire appeared to them and rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. So what we have is Mark 9 1, Jesus says, the kingdom will come with power. Acts 1, power will come with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came with power. And we’ll look more at Acts chapter 2 later, marking the opening of what promise of Jesus going back to Mark 1 and 9. The kingdom of God has come. And by the way, who is the king of that kingdom?

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now, this is important because the premillennial theory relies upon the idea that the world was too wicked for Jesus. That when Jesus came to this earth to redeem mankind, to set up his kingdom, the world was too wicked. And they’ll say, well, that’s why you don’t see the word church in the Old Testament, because it was an addition. It was a parenthetical addition by God because the world was not ready for Jesus and his reign. The problem with that is that limits God’s power. Are we really saying that God can’t foreknow that? That God’s will could be subverted by a bunch of frustrated, jealous, and bitter Jews. That God’s plan could be thwarted by some governor or some leader, like a pilot.

2. Teaches Jesus Is Not Currently Reigning

I don’t think so. Secondly, it teaches the idea that Jesus is not currently reigning. Again, setting aside the fact that there are not two kingdoms being spoken of, the other option is, is Jesus not yet king. Because after all the millennial theory, Jesus is going to come down to Jerusalem and sit on David’s throne for one thousand years on a much better earth. But notice there’s something very important. Here’s something you probably didn’t expect this morning. Let’s look at Zechariah. Turn with me in your Old Testament to Zachariah chapter six. In Zechariah chapter six. I would give you my page number, but I don’t think that’s probably going to help. In Zechariah chapter six. If you note a prophecy, beginning in verse 12, very important about Jesus.

In Zechariah chapter 6 and verse 12. This is important because if it can be established that not only is what said in the prophecy true of Jesus, we can also see that it was part of the plan of God before Jesus was ever born. This would mean it was not an audible. The world was not too wicked, but this was part of God’s plan. And Zechariah chapter 6 and verse 12, and say to him, thus says the Lord of hosts, behold the man whose name is the branch, for he shall branch out from his place and he shall build the temple of the Lord. It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor and sit and rule on his throne.

Note this next phrase. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the council of peace shall be between them both. Notice that phrase the priest will be on the throne. The branch, somebody in the lineage of David. Matthew 1, and the genealogies in the gospel of Luke teach very clearly, Jesus is from what lineage? The one God always promised. Jesus was of the lineage of David. In fact, you look at the very first few verses of Matthew chapter 1, it is of Abraham and David that Jesus is in the lineage of.

Now, as you look in Acts chapter 2, notice with me, Acts chapter 2, going back there, we remember that the tongues of fire had rested on each of the disciples. The kingdom is theoretically open if what Jesus has promised is true. And so we’d expect to see a great message, a message about Jesus, the conquering king, Jesus our priest, the kingdom being open, salvation being available. And Acts chapter 2, beginning in verse 29, notice with me. Peter, as he’s preaching, says, Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

This Jesus God raised up, and of this we are all witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens. But he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Acts chapter 2 and verse 36 is sufficient. God did what with the crucified Jesus? Elevated him, raised him from the dead according to the plan. And he is at the right hand of the throne of God now.

Now Jesus is Lord and Christ. And the bad news for the Jews in verse 36 was they crucified. That’s why it’s not surprising in verse 37, they say, What shall we do? Ephesians chapter 1 teaches the very concept that Paul writes of in the present tense that Jesus is at the right hand of God. He has the authority of the king. But he still has to be a priest. Look with me in Hebrews chapter 8. Notice Hebrews chapter 8, verse 1. The book of Hebrews, chapter 8. If you look at one verse to illustrate this point, verse 1 makes this. In the book of Hebrews, as they’re trying to establish that Jesus is greater, the new covenant is better. Jews, Hebrews, don’t go back to Judaism.

3. The Idea That a Material Kingdom Is in Mind

Don’t neglect the kingdom of God. And Hebrews 8 and verse 1. Now the point in what we are saying is this we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heaven. Who and where is Jesus? The high priest at the throne of God. Where did Zacharias say this leader would have to be? A priest on the throne of God. Both in prophecy and in present day, current fulfillment, Jesus is reigning as king. And aren’t we happy that Jesus is our king? The kingdom is open. And as Hebrews chapter 4 says, we have a great high priest who understands our weaknesses. Jesus is reigning now. Another problem with premillennialism is the idea that a material kingdom is in mind.

The idea that Jesus would come back to the earth and set up shop in Jerusalem in Israel is the same problem the Jews of Jesus’ day were making. And by the way, it wasn’t just the bad guys, those mean Pharisees. The Pharisees missed it. In John chapter 18, Pilate missed it. In Acts chapter 1, it seems that the disciples still missed it. And certainly the way they would forsake Jesus and flee on the night of his crucifixion teaches, they didn’t fully understand and embrace what Jesus was teaching them. Here’s the problem with finding a material kingdom in the future. It’s not there.

Notice this phrase. And Revelation chapter 3. As we know of the lukewarm church at Laodicea, notice how he concludes. In Revelation 3 21, if you can overcome, if you can surpass the lukewarm nature, if you can be unbridled by the world, verse 21, the one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne. As I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Is Jesus on the throne? He sure thinks so. And when Jesus has said it, the simple is usually best. Jesus is on the throne. And the beauty is if we conquer, we can be with him too. Isn’t that amazing? A material kingdom is not what Jesus is talking about. Is Jesus on a material throne now?

4. The Church Is No Longer Part of God’s Great Plan

No. And when Jesus answers to Pilate, my kingdom is not of this world. And Pilate says, So you are a king. What was it that Jesus said? No, I’m not a king. No. His point was if I was a king, living for a material kingdom, not only would my servants be fighting for me now, I wouldn’t have even been delivered over to the Jews in the first place. Jesus was being crucified at the behest of the Father’s eternal plan. So as we work towards concluding the lesson, notice three quicker points this morning. One of the problems with premillennialism is the church is no longer part of God’s great plan. It’s considered a substitute in God’s plan. And this one is easy enough if you look at Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 8.

Paul doesn’t recognize it that way. In Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 8, to me, though I am the very least of all the saints, Paul says, this grace was given to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. Now note with me, Ephesians 3, beginning in verse 10 in particular. So that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places in verse 11. This was according to the eternal purpose. That he is realized in Christ Jesus our Lord. Is the church a substitute? No. Is the church part of God’s eternal plan?

Absolutely. That’s not me saying that. That’s not you saying that. That is Paul inspired by God Himself, saying the church is part of the manifold wisdom of God, the plan that was carried out for the eternal purpose of our Lord in and through Jesus the Christ. By the way, not surprisingly, Jesus would talk about this. While he was preaching, we remember Matthew chapter 16, Jesus said, Who do people say that I am? And after some bad guesses, Jesus says, I know who you are. You are the Christ. And Jesus says to Peter, You will have the keys of the kingdom. And by the way, Peter, those keys to the kingdom are going to be worthless for over 2,000 years because I’m not coming back for a long time.

It’s not what he says. You have the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus spoke of the kingdom. He spoke of it in a way that makes us think it would be something in the life of Peter, and we go back and we say, What did Jesus say about the kingdom? It would come with power. Power would come with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, including especially who in Acts chapter 2? Peter, who was preaching the lesson. That God raised Jesus up, that it was Jesus who the Jews had crucified, who God made both Lord and Christ. Peter was standing as one of the foundational teachers in this new, wonderful kingdom of God. That Jesus told him he would be a part of.

5. The New Testament Authors Are Clearly Confused

That was part of God’s eternal plan. That verse 11 says was only possible in realization and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. To deny this denies God, denies Christ, and removes him from his throne and removes our hope. It’s not biblical, and it’s not something we should be hoping for. As we look at two other points, one of them is the New Testament authors, the premillennialism is true, are clearly confused. In Colossians chapter 1 and verse 13 and 14, notice what Paul writes very directly about the kingdom. As he’s writing this wonderful statement that Christians today can rejoice in, embrace, and make our own. He says, God has taken us from the domain of darkness and transferred us where? Into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Paul didn’t say, hey, that’s coming later. He says, you can have that now. God has taken us now from a spot of no hope. And says, you can be part of Christ’s kingdom. And what’s there, verse 14? Redemption. To be bought back, to have our sins forgiven. This is important. It’s not a trifle, it’s not an argument, it’s not a debate. Jesus reigns as king is critical to a New Testament Christian’s faith. There’s no way around it. Paul teaches it as an elemental, elemental principle. In Revelation chapter 1, and even in verse 5, the idea is that now we are made kingdoms and priests, that we are part of this body of Jesus, our king and holy priest, that the Hebrew writer makes very clear as pivotal to our faith.

6. Changes the Purpose of Our Crucified Lord’s Death

And so as we make our final point, most daringly, problematically, and most disparagingly, the idea of premillennialism changes the purpose of our crucified Lord’s death. If the world thwarted God’s plan in some miraculous way, if it was that mankind could overthrow God’s plan to where he’d have to abort mission and change this eternal purpose of the church. If it would be that Paul is wrong and deluded, he just doesn’t understand, even though he’s inspired by God. If it would be that Jesus isn’t king now, he isn’t our great priest now. He’s not the right hand of God now. It changes the purpose of his prophesied and fulfilled death. In Isaiah chapter 53. Consider hundreds of years, likely 700 years before Jesus would even be born. This was said in verse 3, he was despised and rejected by men.

A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And as one whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. And with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one to his own way. And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep before its shears is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away, and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people, and they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. And notice with me, verse 10, yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him. He has put him to grief. Do you see in verse 10? Whose will it was that Jesus would be crushed? Who it was that grieved and afflicted Jesus. When his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days. The will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied. By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. God tells his prophet Isaiah, who records this easily, six hundred, likely seven hundred years before Jesus would ever be alive, let alone taken to the cross. That Jesus is going to die. And he’s not just going to die, he’s going to suffer. He’s going to be put to extreme grief. And there’s a purpose for it for our sin. The good news of the gospel message that Jesus says in Mark 1, it’s time to repent and believe in, is that Jesus came and died for a purpose. Jesus died that we can live. Any theory that changes Jesus as king, Jesus as the high priest, Jesus coming into our world, into our form, and taking part in our sinful activities aimed at him every step of the way, is only because God’s will cared enough so that you and me can be a part of this current active and strong kingdom.

When we consider Acts chapter 2, notice one final passage with me. In Acts chapter 2, Peter is preaching this great sermon. And remember, it was Acts 2 in which the kingdom would be open according to the signs that Jesus said to follow. It was Peter who in Matthew chapter 22, God makes it very clear through his apostle Peter that this was absolutely always the plan. Men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, and manifested you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. Verse 23, this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Verse 23 should comfort us every single day. This Jesus delivered up according to what? See the two descriptions. The definite plan and the foreknowledge of God. You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Peter told God’s physical kingdom Israel. You had him. You listened to it. You saw the miracles, you saw the signs, you heard him say, repent, for the kingdom is here. Repent, for the kingdom is near. Look for the kingdom. Be a part of it. Listen to the words of the Savior. See your king and bow your life to his. Know Acts 2 and verse 36 that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. And the terrifying news is we are at fault for his crucifixion too.

Conclusion

God wasn’t overwhelmed by the last part of verse 23, lawless men. His plan was that Jesus died because of our and my lawlessness. This morning, repent, for the kingdom of God is here. Repent, because our king is wonderful and mighty. Rejoice, because, as Paul says, we can be taken from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we can have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Praise be to our King and our God. Will you go to our God in prayer with me? Our dear God, our most merciful, gracious, and loving Heavenly Father. We come to you now recognizing we too often don’t do your simple will. Help us to always remember that your way is best. Your kingdom is open if we will simply seek you and submit our lives to you in total sacrifice, trusting your ways as best, your plan as definite and wonderful and mighty.

Thank you for sending Jesus to die for us. Thank you for sending Jesus into this world to be killed by the hands of lawless men according to your definite plan, according to your foreknowledge, that we can have a hope of one day being in your presence before the very throne we beseech you upon now for eternity. Thank you for the life of Jesus. Thank you for his resurrection. May we truly live resurrected lives as we seek to serve you and trust our King. It’s in his name we pray. Amen. We’re now dismissed to our Bible classes.