THE MILLENNIUM: THE PRESENT REIGN OF CHRIST

EXERCISES

• Review the memory verse of the week, and talk about how it relates to the Truth section.
  
• Review the Pentateuch, Historical books, Poetic books, Major and Minor Prophets of the Old Testament.
  
• Include time for one or two JG members to recite all 66 books of the Bible.

SUGGESTED DISCUSSION

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  TRUTH – You can discuss any of the in Bible questions you would like to address. Here are some tips that may help:
  • John 12:20-33 – The interesting thing about this passage is that Jesus uses the occasion of some Greeks who wanted to speak with Him to talk about how He would draw all men (like these Greeks) to Himself through the cross. When Jesus spoke of “the hour…for the Son of Man to be glorified”, He was referring to all the events surrounding the culmination of His ministry, from the Last Supper to the resurrection and ascension. His “hour” would be a victory over Satan, resulting in his forceful casting out and a loss of his authority. It is not coincidental that Satan’s defeat and the drawing of the Gentiles both result from Christ’s victory on the cross.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 – Paul is clearly stating that Jesus’ reign began at His resurrection. Yet, it is clear that the influence of sin and of Satan have not yet been completely erased from the world. Jesus is reigning now in the sense that His people are being freed from the penalty of sin, and from the power of Satan, as He draws all nations to Himself. This process will continue until He defeats the final enemy, “death”. This will occur when Jesus returns in power and glory to completely establish His earthly reign. Then, His reign will be complete and absolute in both the spiritual and physical dimensions.
  • Ephesians 1:15-23 – In this passage, Paul describes Jesus’ reign as absolute, completely unchallenged by any other power or authority, although its primary focus is in the spiritual dimension during this age. His reign is pictured here as beginning with Christ’s ascension to the right hand of the Father, and has a special connection with His authority over the Church.
  • Ephesians 2:4-7 – Here, Paul describes believers as being made alive with Christ, raised with Christ to heaven, and seated with Christ in the heavenly realm as a display of His matchless grace. To be seated with Christ means that Christians are enthroned with Christ, and in some measure share in His spiritual authority.
  • Revelation 20 – This is the one passage in the Bible that describes a 1,000 year reign of Christ. It is highly symbolic and should be compared to, and interpreted in light of, other narrative or teaching passages in Scripture.
    
    • Verses 1-3 – Satan is described as being bound and thrown into a pit so that he loses His freedom to deceive the nations. Some believers interpret Satan’s binding in verses 2-3 to imply a total loss of his authority. But this passage only mentions his loss of authority to deceive the nations. Satan’s binding will last 1,000 years, coinciding with Jesus’ reign with His people. Since Revelation regularly attaches symbolic meaning to numbers (e.g. 7, 12, 666, 144,000), it would seem unreasonable to attach a literal meaning to 1,000 in this passage. It would be more consistent with the entire book to interpret 1,000 as a number indicating a lengthy period, fully completing God’s intended time.
      
    • Verses 4-6 – The vision of martyred souls and thrones seems to indicate that this is a vision of realities in heaven. Those who are martyred are said to participate in the first resurrection. They are not subject to the second death (Hell) and reign with Christ during the millennial period. The description of those who participate in this first resurrection is also true spiritually of all Christians who, through faith in Christ, have escaped the terror of Hell, have been raised spiritually with Christ and presently reign with Him in the heavens. The second resurrection spoken of here seems to refer to the general physical resurrection at the end of the age, though the focus is on those who do not participate in the first resurrection (i.e. unbelievers).
      
• TRUTH – Here are the main points about the Millennium that you’ll want to make clear:
  • The Millennium is described as a period when Satan is prevented from deceiving the nations, and Christ reigns in heaven with His people.
  • According to the Jesus and Paul, this description applies to the present Church age. Jesus’ victory on the cross has resulted in Satan being “cast out”, and the drawing of the Gentile nations to the light of the gospel. Jesus has been elevated above every rule and authority, and His people sit enthroned with Him in heavenly places.
  • Therefore, the Millennium is a description of the present, heavenly reign of Jesus through His people. This vision of Jesus’ reign was given to John to encourage and embolden his readers to live as people of the gospel during a time a persecution.
  • The amillennial view seems to fit the New Testament facts the best. However, many godly, Bible-believing Christians disagree, and humility should keep us from being overly dogmatic on this point.
    
• EQUIPPING – Discuss how the present reign of Jesus should impact a Christian’s worldview. Give special attention to how it should affect our priorities and our commitment to live as ambassadors of the gospel to the world.
  
• ACCOUNTABILITY – Allow time for smaller groups of 2 or 3 to ask accountability questions and pray for one another.
  
• MISSION – Continue the discussion of helping people investigate Christianity using the Life Issues booklets as a tool for making the gospel known in word. Discuss the question, “Is Jesus Christ the Only Way to God?”, from the third Life Issues booklet.