Answer:

Peter

Biblical theologians have grappled with this  interesting question over the centuries.  But all are left with the same dilemma… Scripture seems to indicate that, in fact, there will be a renewed physical temple and a system for worship practiced in the millennial kingdom!

Scripture indicates that the millennium will be a time of special ministry by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 32:15)  to not only the  church-age saints, but also Israel.  In fact, Scripture indicates worship will be at the center of millennial life! (Joel 2)  A large portion of the activities during the millennium are direct fulfillments of God’s promises to Israel, and those promises often center upon the complete and unfettered worship of  the  God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

So it stands to reason that God’s covenant relationship with Israel would include specific promises being fulfilled during this time. For example, Ezekiel 40-48  declares that a magnificent temple will be constructed and a system of  priestly and memorial sacrifices will be set up during this time.   It seems clear that the sacrifices are not for the removal of sin, as they were in the OT system, but rather now serve as a unique means of  memorial worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for His “once for all” atoning sacrifice for His people!

While a complete answer to the question of the temple and sacrificial system remains somewhat confusing, the main point is clear:

In keeping with God’s promises to Israel, there will be an ordered system of worship once again in a renewed temple in Jerusalem.

In the  final verse of the 48th chapter of Ezekiel, a glorious purpose for the  renewing of Jerusalem and  construction of the magnificent millennial temple is given;

‘The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city form that day shall be,  ’The Lord is there’ “(Ezek 48:35)

For a fuller discussion on this and other related topics regarding the millennium, I recommend the following article:

‘The Glorious Restoration of Israel in the Millennium”  by Dr.John Walvoord
this article can be accessed at bible.org

Answer:

Peter

Why? First off, because that was the singular view taught by the apostles.  :-)  Secondly, these early church fathers were faithful to pass on the teaching of the apostles. They fought hard to “defend the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

Many of them died as a result of the apostolic faith they proclaimed!  Church historians have  established that Polycarp was personally discipled by the apostle John – the Spirit-led, human writer of the book of the Revelation (who, we can rest assured, knew a few things about the end of the age and God’s plan for the future!).  Polycarp was later marytred for his faith.

So, that begs the question… When did premillenialism start? When and why did the church  develop differing views regarding end-times?  Let’s look at it…

When did premillennialism start? Way back in the OT!  God’s promises to Israel  regarding a future messiah-king  who would rule and reign forever are recorded throughout the OT canon (Isa 65:17-25; Ezk 37:21-28, Zec 8:1-7; Isa 11, 65:17-25; Ezk 38:33-38).  The NT  affirms and sheds further light on certain aspects of God’s plan for Israel, the church and the “end times” (Rom 11:1-33; Eph 2:11-3:21; 1 Thess 4:13-5:11).  An unbiased,  straight-forward grammatico-literal reading of the pertinent prophetic passages of the NT  naturally reveals the apostles taught premillennialism.

Church historians tell us that for the first 300-400 years of church history the predominate “end times” position was premillennial.  Why did this change? The primary cause was a increasing  lack of adherence to a literal interpretation of Scripture.  This was somewhat fueled by the advancing growth of the papacy.  The church hierarchy began using a form of interpretation known as allegory.  The allegorizing of the Bible (making it’s meaning symbolic rather than a straightforward, literal unfolding of  the author’s intent) began to introduce all kinds of mischief into Bible interpretation.  Sadly, one of the major proponents of this approach was the great theologian Augustine.  By the time of the Reformation (1520+ AD), premillennial teaching was nearly extinct.

The reformers were primarily “amillennial” due mainly to the developing theological system known as “covenant theology.”  A  main tenet of this system is applying the future promises that God made to Israel to the church, in light of Israel’s past rejection of the Messiah.  In this system, the church replaces Israel obviating the need for the millennial reign of Christ upon the Davidic throne!  (contra Rev 3:7, 5:5, 22:16).

The key to truly understanding the nature and timing of God’s final purpose for history is contained in openly and diligently seeking God’s intent within His Word.  That means not following a eschatological/theological system that requires conforming Scripture to that system.  Just take Scripture in its plain, literal sense and see what it teaches!

The reason there are many different positions is NOT because the Bible is confused or unclear.  It is because people are subject to error, and over the history of the church, the many approaches to understanding these things have become firmly entrenched.  We hold to a simple interpretive principle — use the plain principles of grammar and language to ascertain the plain, literal meaning of the text — assume that God chose to communicate clearly & plainly with us about these things, rather than shading meanings and leaving great mystery that requires the interpreter to come up with the meaning.  We  believe you can arrive at God’s intended meaning in Scripture if you just take it as it stands.   Now the dangerous part… are you willing to believe, trust and obey what God has said, no matter where His truth leads you?

We are all finite, fallen and in need of God’s grace every day! We just want to let the plain, literal sense of the bible speak for itself  …and when you do, you will naturally arrive at a pre-millennial view.   But listen… eschatology is not a cause for division or relational conflict, we love all those who are true followers of Christ, even though we may hold differing views on God’s plan for the future!

Answer:

Peter

Based on the personal characteristics of the “man of sin” described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, we can safely draw some inferences about him:

1. He opposes and exalts himself above everything, even the one true and living God (v.4a)
2. He proclaims himself  to be God (v.4b)
3. He is completely influenced by and reflects the nature and character of Satan (v.9)

Scripture declares that Satan is the father of pride, the father of lies and the deceiver.  As a part of God’s sovereign plan for redemptive history, Satan is allowed to use this final “son of perdition” to carry out his evil attempt to usurp Christ and be worshipped as God.  Satan will do anything to oppose God’s rightful rulership and glory.  Therefore, one can safely argue that the Antichrist, in a way and depth unmatched by any of  the other preceding megalomaniacal world leaders, is blinded, self-deluded and completely given over to evil through Satanic influence.   (Far more than Antiochus Ephinanes or Adolf Hitler!)

Like Satan, he is completely consumed with pride and self-idolatry. I  believe the Antichrist will be shocked when he swiftly incurs his ultimate fate - the just and eternal wrath of God.

“And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming” (2 Thess 2:8)

Answer:

Chris

and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
[Will he be a religious leader to be worshipped?]

Daniel 9:26 says,

and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.
[Will he be a Roman/Italian?]

And Daniel 11:36-37 says,

Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. 37 “And he will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all.
[Will he be homosexual OR celibate?]

The biblical descriptions above definitely COULD point to the Antichrist being a Roman Catholic Pope in the future.

Answer:

Peter

First, those who have died without repenting and trusting  Christ’s  payment for their sin (thereby receiving the  imputation of His righteousness to them see – 2 Cor 5:21) are awaiting “final judgment” of their lives (Rev 20:11-15).  In contrast, the believer’s sin was judged at the cross through Christ’s atoning death (1 Cor 15:1-4).  So there is no judgment of  our sin at death because Christ’s perfect payment cancels our unpayable debt of sin to God!  (Jn 19:28)

The Bible states that when the unsaved die, they await final judgment of their sins in a place called Hades (the Greek word for the Hebrew word sheol) – c.f., Matt 11:23, 16:18; Lk 10:15, 16:23; Rev 6:8.

Hades is not the ultimate destination of the unrepentant (i.e., Hell). The ultimate sentencing of the unsaved occurs as a result of the final judgment called the “Great White Throne Judgment” (Rev 20:11-15).  All the unsaved receive God’s final judgment and condemnation at the Great White Throne Judgment.  The Bible calls the final place where the unsaved carry out their eternal punishment, the “lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14-15 describes this most serious, sobering and tragic truth in all of Scripture:

“Then death and Hades were thrown in to the lake of fire.This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyones’ s name was not written in the book of life,he was thrown into the lake of fire”

So the Bible calls what we think of as “eternal hell” the “lake of fire.”

There is debate among theologians about when this final hell described as the “lake of fire” comes into existence.  Some argue it may already exist (Matt 10:28), but if it does, it is currently unoccupied!!  Why? Because its first eternal inmates, the beast (Anti-Christ)  and the false prophet (an end-time world religious leader) will not begin serving their never-ending sentence until the end of the Tribulation (Rev 19:20).

So, to recap:

1. “Hades” is the place where the unsaved go after death to await the “Great White Throne” Judgment.  The Bible intimates this is a “temporary” place of punishment (Luke 16:19-31). Hades is not eternal Hell.
2. The “lake of fire” is the final destination for all the unrepentant for all eternity; this is what is commonly referred to as “hell.”  The Greek word for Hell is “gehenna,” not “hades” ( lit., “the place of the unseen”).

While everyone will die one day (except those ”snatched away” in the rapture – 1 Thess 4:16-18!), anyone can avoid Hades and the just punishment of  Hell  by confessing their sin and trusting in Jesus Christ’s work of salvation . . . ” for the wages of sin is death (complete separation from God and serving out the  tragic consequence of the Lord’s just sentence/punishment for your sin forever).  Thank God for the second half of Romans 6:23 . . . but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Because of God’s grace, we do not have to experience eternal death but can inherent eternal life through personally receiving the free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ!

If you have not confessed to God that you are  sinner by nature and a sinner by choice, repent and trust Christ for the complete payment of your sins.  The Bible repeatedly declares that you are headed toward God’s perfectly just judgment  and condemnation for your sins.  If you have not personally cried out to God for His mercy, please do so now! (Read  Luke 18:9-14!)  I beg  you to repent and agree with God that you need to embrace and trust Christ alone as your only Savior and Lord (Rom 10:10).  Only He qualifies to be your perfect substitute and is able to make complete atonement for your sin! (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Please recognize your  inability to pay for your sin and earn God’s favor by your efforts! Do not accept the false notion that living a “moral life” or doing “good things” makes you right with God. Rather, embrace and receive God’s free offer of forgiveness and eternal life through trusting in the finished work of  Christ alone (1 Peter 3:18) . . . then begin to  live for Him now with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, knowing that He will one day bring  you to the never-ending  joy of heaven — to an eternity that is inexhaustibily blessed!  He will bring you to the ulitmate meaning of  life: to experience an everlasting life of glorifying Him and enjoying Him forever! (Jude 24-25)

Answer:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.  (1 Thess 4:16-17)

Paul is pretty clear that there will be a point when Christians who have not died will rise from the earth and meet Jesus in the air.  The only question is WHEN?!

Of that particular day, no one knows (1 Thess 5:2, Mark 13:32).  Of the general timeframe, there is much debate…  Is it pre-trib, mid-trib, pre-wrath, post-trib?  Personally, I’m hoping/praying/expecting a pre-tribulational rapture, but I’m not dogmatic that everyone has to agree with me on this.

Answer: In modern vocabulary, we tend to think of everything in terms of “heaven” and “hell.”  But when you look at Revelation 20-22, which describes the final places which are made for all people, you see that the eternal home of all people will be either “the new heavens & the new earth” or “the lake of fire.”  But it’s not just the new earth on which Christians will live, but in the new “Jerusalem” which will come “down out of heaven from God” (Rev 21:10).  This is the place which Christ is preparing now for all those who love Him, whom the Father has called (Jn 14:2).

And to that I say, wahoo!  Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!

Answer:

One of the reasons I love visiting Europe is for all the history.  On my last trip, I visited Trier on the far west side of Germany.  It has one of the largest city gates still standing, north of the Alps — the Porta Nigra — built for and used by the Romans throughout their reign.  (That’s me, standing in front of it, in the picture.)  I say this because, as Americans, our geography and our knowledge of history can be shoddy.  The Roman Empire was not confined or even mainly in & around Italy.  It was all across Europe.  Great Britain was a major Roman province named Britannia, with Hadrian’s Wall blocking off access to the northern barbarians (the Scots).

So, yes, you can be certain that the 10 kingdoms are Europe.  Not necessarily the European Union in its current state, for as you say, things can look significantly different over the span of years.  But geographically, this does appear to be the region and people from which the 10 kings prophesied in Daniel 7 shall arise.

Question: Why insert a gap after the 4th kingdom (in Daniel 7)? A regular read would put u in the 10th Roman ruler in Christ’s day. Nero came out of this. Doesn’t that make more sense than some still future guy?

Answer:

Peter

For example, when reading about  God’s promises (prophecy) in Scripture, we sometimes see a  short  fulfillment time – days, months, & years or  longer intervals like decades, centuries or millennia! This principle is illustrated clearly in Daniel’s prophecy about Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion (Dan 4).  This prediction was fulfilled within the King’s lifetime (a relatively short period of time).  Other times, we see a somewhat later fulfillment, like the fall of Belshazzar and the ascendency of the Medo-Persian kingdom ruled by Cyrus (Dan 5).  Sometimes the fulfillment stretches over centuries, like the promise of God fulfilled in the Exodus!

One  clear example  of this “near/far fulfillment  principle” in Scripture  is seen in the prophecy of Christ’s birth.  It was first promised way back in Gen 3:15 but actually occurred some 4,000 years later! If you look closely you’ll see a “near vs. far ” fulfillment pattern in the  “prophetic sections” of  the Word. It is essential that we apply that principle as we interpret prophecy!

Daniel 7 describes the four final world empires which God promised to unfold during human history.  As we saw last week, the  fourth and final kingdom consists of two fulfillments (ie, near/far principle).  The first was the emergence of the Roman Empire (ca. 200 BC  to 300 AD) and the second, still to come, is the “little horn” (final anti-Christ) who assumes power and leads a resurgence of the Roman Empire — still yet future.  Scripture proves this is a later, yet unfulfilled prophecy because :

1. Rev. 13  declares  this “little horn” or  beast or ruler was “yet to come.”  He was not on the scene as John received and wrote of  the book of Revelation.  So John was stating that the coming anti-Christ was still yet future!
2. To remain true to a “grammatico-literal-historical-contextual interpretive method” when  unfolding  prophetic or end times literature, we must apply the near/far fulfillment rule  where  the context and the rest of Scripture support it. Daniel 7 is a clear presentation of this important interpretive principle.

So how does this apply to your question?  I believe your question may describe a part of an eschatological (“future or last things” ) position known as the ”preterist view.”  In that view, the prophecies concerning the  final world ruler and his kingdom  were fulfilled prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (which was a horrific act ordered by the emperor Nero).  But a careful examination of the apostle John’s account of the coming antichrist demonstrates that this awful event decreed by Nero was not an act of the antichrist.  John wrote the book of the Revelation in AD 90.  No doubt John was aware of  the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem some twenty years earlier.   This was not a shock to John as Christ had predicted in Matthew 24:1-2 that this would occur!  Yet John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, stated the future antichrist  and the revived Roman empire was still to come:

“And the ten horns which you saw are the ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour” (Rev. 17:12)

So, based on Rev. 13: and 17:12, other yet unfulfilled prophecies and the witness of history, Nero could not be the final antichrist.  So Daniel 7 :7b-8 is still yet unfulfilled.

The reason there’s a “gap” is because God’s promised “little horn” is still yet  to come. Nero was a horrble dictator, but a careful reading of the pertinent prophetic passages of Scripture prove that He could not have been the  “little horn’ of Daniel 7!  Just like the  “gap” between the prophecy of Christ’s  birth and its fulfillment took 4,000 years for its fulfillment.  Rest assured that God has set a time for the final fulfillment of the prophecies concerning  Daniel 7 and the end of this age.

So what does this mean for us today? One thing is abundantly clear. Its fulfillment is obviously much closer than when Daniel received the vision and the Apostle John further illumined it for us! Are you ready?

” So will My Word be which goes forth  from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isa 55:11)

Answer:

The fact that this number is repeated six times in this passage indicates that the figure is to be understood literally.  Why the repetition if it is not to be taken literally?  The Old Testament also teaches the literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth. The Davidic covenant between God and the nation of Israel unveils that Jesus will reign from the throne of David in Jerusalem for a 1,000 years. Key texts which should be interpreted literally are:  Ps 2:1-9; Isa 9:6-7, 11:1-2, 55:3; Jer 23:5-8, 33:20-26; Ezek 34:23-25, 37:23-24; Luke 1:32-33.

If you don’t use the historical-grammatical method, the text can be made to mean any number of things.  The Word of God becomes “putty in the hand of the interpreter.” In Genesis 17: 8, God made a covenant with Abraham  in which God gave to him and his descendants the land of Canaan. When any student of the Word of God reads this text, they all interpret it literally.  Abraham received actual literal dirt — miles and miles of real land.

The leadership at FBC would interpret the Scripture concerning the Davidic Covenant the exact same way that we interpret the Genesis 17 passage – the Abrahamic Covenant) — literally.  Otherwise Abraham never really received any literal land. It must have been a spiritual land. (I say this in jest.)  As the land of Canaan was a literal place given to Israel, so the 1,000 year reign of Christ will literally happen.  Jesus will sit physically on a real throne, in the physical city of David here on earth.