Subject: Satan has permission to rule |
Bible Note: PaulusSecundus, True true. However the question becomes, When is the thousand years? Many Christians today believe the only real question in end times belief is when will Christ come back in relation to the tribulation? At the beggining? At the end? In the middle? However, they would be suprised to know that in historical Christianity this has not been the question that divided where people stood. In contrast, the question was when will Christ come back in relation to this 1,000 year reign. To that there were three main answers. (I'm discounting the preterist view.) The one we are most familiar with would be the pre-millenial view. This view holds that Christ returns prior to the 1,000 year reign on earth. The second two both hold that the 1,000 year reign willhappen prior to Christs return. The first is postmillenial. This holds that the advance of the gospel will usher in a golden age for Christianity that lasts 1,000 years prior to Christs return. The final position is called amillenialism. It holds that Christs thousand year reign is meant to reference his current reigning on his throne in heaven guiding all things to their proper climax in his return. At the end of this time, satan will be released. This actually has been the most widely held stance historically, though few hold it now. Now, the scripture you referenced only actually impacts the discussion if you assume a premillenial view. I do not here intend to argue for one or the other, but only explain the assumptions we are bringing to the text. I'll tell you that I do not hold a premillenial view. In Christ, Beja |