Since abandoning Premillennialism I have engaged in many debates/discussions on the matter of the second coming, end-times and the here-after. These are some of the major weaknesses I find in the Premillennialism doctrine, and are strong reasons why I believe the dogma should be rejected.
I come at it from the opposite direction, and would add some commentary myself. I was raised in a communion that was Amill before I knew there was anything else. Nobody in my church ever mentioned a thousand year period, except that I read it in the Scriptures, in the book of Revelation. And in that book we are told it is dangerous to omit what is written there. So I will not omit mention of a Millennium which is, in fact, there.
What I normally get is either blatant avoidance of the issues or "Revelation 20 says." This is so frustrating because Revelation 20 does not corroborate Revelation 20.
What frustrates me is that I constantly hear this argument from Amills, who say that evidence of the Millennial Kingdom is *only* in Rev 20, when the fact is, we are told throughout Scripture that Messiah is bringing with him *God's Kingdom!* While it's true that we don't see other references to a specific length of time for this Kingdom, we are told that it lies in a future era. Some call it "Eternity," and some call it the "Millennium." But I don't think there should be any confusion that there is basis for a future Kingdom throughout the prophetic Scriptures!
(1) Premil is totally preoccupied with, and dependent upon, one chapter in the Bible – Revelation 20.
This is a repeat of the point I just answered. Beyond that, there is evidence that Jews, prior to Christian Premillennialism, believed that there would be a 7th millennium in human history, just as there was 7th day in the 7 days of creation. It's called the Millennial Day Theory.
This idea was apparently based on the Scripture which said, "A day is as a thousand years." So there isn't much biblical basis for the "Millennium" as a specific number of years. But the principle of "Seven" is certainly a big part of Scripture, and the translation of Seven into Seven Thousand may have some basis, as well.
(2) Premil hangs its doctrine on a very precarious frayed thread: that of Revelation 20 following Revelation 19 chronologically in time.
I would agree that the visions in Revelation are not all chronological, even if there is a progressive narrative sequence. But in this case, the narrative requires there to be an advance in time following the return of Christ to destroy Antichrist. Satan, who was animating Antichrist, is bound for a thousand years, and later deposited where Antichrist had already been deposited. That requires a specific chronology that places ch. 20 after ch. 19.
(3) The detail Premil attributes to Revelation 20 compared to what the actual text explicitly says is day and night. Revelation 20 does not remotely say what Premil attribute to it. Many extravagant characteristics, events and ideas are inserted into Revelation 20 that do not exist in the said chapter.
For example:
· For years, it has been the Premil mantra that Jesus will be ruling in majesty and glory with a rod of iron for 1000 years on planet earth after the second coming. But this can be found nowhere in Revelation 20 or any other passage in Scripture?
As I said before, the coming of the Messianic Kingdom is a regular theme, sometimes explicitly and sometimes inferentially, in the prophetic Scriptures. It is not only not a difference between night and day--it is the same thing! Christ's Kingdom, as stated in prophecy, is *precisely* what Rev 20 indicates, that Christ's Kingdom will be so dominant that rebellion against Christianity will not be tolerated. Christian Kingdoms, including Israel's Christian Kingdom, will not be repressed.
· Premillennialists argue that salvation will continue on after the second coming. But where does it say that? The second coming brings a close to the day of salvation. Scripture makes clear: now is the day of salvation. It also shows the completion of the great commission ushers in the end of the world (Matthew 28:19-20). Scriptures tells us that “the longsuffering of our Lord” that marks the period before Jesus comes as a thief in the night “is salvation” (2 Peter 3:15). There is no more salvation after that.
Saying "today is the day of Salvation" is *not* denying that Salvation is tomorrow also! It is just arguing for the present availability of salvation in the prospect that our lives could be called into account at any time. People will, in fact, get saved tomorrow even though *today* is the day of salvation! ;)
There is nothing in Scripture that indicates human history will effect a change in man's sin nature after Christ comes, except that God will impose tolerance for Christianity on earth, both politically and individually. Not all nations will choose for Christianity, however. Need we find evidence for this reality in Scriptures when it is already so?
We would need evidence that it would stop, which Scripture does not do! On the contrary, we are told in Revelation that the Kingdom will have to be *imposed* by the authority of Christ and his glorified Church. That suggests human sin continues in the future Kingdom of Christ when Christianity has to be forcibly made to be tolerated.
Rev 2.27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.
· They argue that the old covenant arrangement will be fully restarted in a future millennium, even though Revelation 20 makes no mention of such teaching.
Not all Premills are Dispensationalists. I would agree that Dispensationalists are too literal in their claim that Israel and her former worship under the Law will reemerge as supreme in the Millennial Age. Use of terminology of the Law becomes, in the NT Scriptures, symbolic of Christ himself because he fulfilled the Law. Nor do I think Israel will be the greatest Christian nation in the Millennium--just honored as the 1st of many nations of God.
This already addresses all of the issues you raise. But be at peace with what you believe. These are not things that will get you into heaven, nor keep you from getting in! ;)
