Gary DeMar - Is the "millennium" a literal 1000 years?

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We should not arbitrarily choose whether to interpret a scripture passage "literally" or figuratively.

Whenever possible, we should first examine other Bible passages to see what a phrase or word means and then apply the meaning consistently.

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[james46888]

Personally speaking, I see no reason to take the figure of "1000-years" as anything other than literal. After all, every other time period spoken of in the book of Revelation is literal, so why make the "1000-years" the one exception to that rule?

[jcr4runner]

The point is that you need to use a consistent hermeneutic and apply it all the way through the Bible and let that method affect your interpretation rather than making the Bible fit your preconceived interpretation.

For instance, God says in Exodus 20, "And I will have mercy through a thousand generations on those who have love for me."

If we take this "thousand generations" literally (40,000 years) then history has a long way to go and we are not living in the "end times."

Would you agree?

[bereansearch]

Hello, I come from a SBC background, and by studying theology, (really God's grace,) found my way to a Reformed Baptist Church. I have just about gotten, by God's grace, my theological ducks in a row, but this issue remains. What DVD's or books do you reccomend, so I can understand both sides? What about the Gary kDeMar and Thomas Ice debate? Is it any good?

[jcr4runner]

Go to Forerunner website and see the DVDs offered there.

Link is above.

[NsomniAtl]

Everybody misses something.

Here is wisdom. Let he who hath understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is chi zhi stigma. (666 in Greek numbers)

"for it is the number of a man"---does not mean ONE male. It means ANY man, woman, or child. The Greek word is "anthropos", or "man-faced", meaning unique person, like our modern idea if identity, or ID.

If the writer had meant "one particular MALE", he would have used the Greek word "aner."

[jcr4runner]

It's possible. I have my questions over whether John is using a cryptogram.

Do you agree though that the Beast is Nero?

[MrHunterdion]

Gary is correct in that the N jerusalem is referred to as the church in Hebrews and therefore the New Jerusalem has already come down and has been established on earth!

[MrHunterdion]

@Lysimachus78 Problem! The new Jerusalem is referred to as the church in Hebrews as well as rev 21 so the n jerusaem has already come down!

[mpenaco]

@nwowarrior I concur. The Kingdom will be on earth and will gradually grow and expand just like a mustard seed that starts small but ends up as a huge tree. The earth that Christ returns to at his second coming will be predominantly Christian and will enjoy the blessings of peace and prosperity under Christ's rule.

[PenacoEdmonton]

I've read that book and yes, it is very interesting reading and can shake one's belief system regarding the future of Christianity. It challenges modern "prophecy experts" like Hal Lindsey and others who hold to an eschatology of despair and defeat.

[PenacoEdmonton]

This is the dispensational view which, unfortunately, does not do justice to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead of expecting victory on earth for the Christians, you are proclaiming defeat for the Gospel and victory for Satan. This is not what Scripture teaches. Is Satan more powerful than Christ? Didn't Paul say that Satan has been defeated at Christ's death on the cross? While you see an emptied abyss, the Bible sees a blessed earth filled with the kingdom of God.

[PenacoEdmonton]

I believe the thousand years in Revelation 20 is not a literal 1000 as Gary Demar explained but refers to a great period of time when Christ reigns with his disciples and those converted to Christianity. This reign began at Jesus' resurrection and will continue on until he has put his enemies and all opposition under his feet. Unlike Gary Demar though, I interpret the 1000 year reign to be here on earth. Christ is seated at his throne in heaven reigning with his living disciples on earth.

[mpenaco]

The 1,000 years of Rev 20 began at Christ's ressurection when he ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. It's not a literal thousand but represents a great period of time when Christ and his followers rule the earth and battle against the remaining forces of Satan who Jesus defeated at the cross. We are presently living in that period which will continue until all the nations are converted to Christianity. The world that Jesus returns to will be a a christian world.

[got2liv4him]

he is postmil...

[Jimbo3783]

There is a free book online called Paradise Restored by David Chilton. It's in pdf format. Give it a read. I think, not sure, that gary demar is a post milliennialist not an amillennialist. And there is a big difference. But the Paradise Restored book is amazing.

[Lysimachus78]

This man is very close to the truth. If only he'd keep crawling up to it and he'll eventually get it nailed. The 1000 years will be in heaven. The earth will be an emptied abyss, torn up, and vacuumed of everything living, save for Satan and his demons. But at the END of the 1000 years, ALL the saints come back to the earth with Christ and the New Jerusalem. All the wicked that ever lived are resurrected, Satan is loosed and convinces them to attack the New Jerusalem! Quite simple indeed! :D