Answering A VERY Misleading Question: Who Will Populate The Millennium?

 

 

by Paul Benson

Untwisting The Pretzel Logic of Pre-trib Theory

…and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Revelation 20:4

Most pre-trib teachers and preachers have a pet ‘proof’ they like to take out and cuddle quite often. They claim that a post-tribulation Coming of Christ to catch away the Church absolutely cannot be the correct view as it leaves no mortals alive to populate the millennium. But is there any traction there; or are they merely spinning their wheels, and once again making a lot of noise over nothing?

Let’s look at the question of who will populate the millennium from the perspective of what actually is (and what is not) taught in the Scriptures; and not just the unsupported opinions and theories of man.

Watch Your Step Now!

There is a major obstacle in effectively answering this question. The pre-trib promoters posing this question have it so pre-loaded with the presumptions of their theory that you have to be careful not to stumble over all their misunderstandings, and mistake them for fact. Wading through all of this to get to a proper conclusion can be quite a chore; unless you understand most of their argument is mere fluff. It’s just ‘filler’ to puff up their pretzel and make it seem larger than it really is. Once you see that, and learn to side-step it all, you can cut to the chase so to speak.

Before we attempt to answer the question let’s look at some of the unsupported notions they stuff this question with (all the while demanding you answer according to their ‘guidelines’ of what is truth on this issue). Don’t let this section bog you down with too much info to assimilate. I am merely showing here the presumptive nature in which the question is presented; making it so difficult to give an effective response that might be accepted by them. The solution to this question (given toward the end of this write-up) is actually quite simple. As simple as reading the Bible, and believing what it has to say.

A Cagey Quote

Here is a quote on this subject from a pre-trib teacher named Thomas Ice that gives a good example of what I am referring to. Let’s see how many presumptions we can spot in this quote from Mr. Ice. I’ve numbered the ones I see with [brackets].

THOMAS ICE QUOTE: A problem generated by the viewpoint of premillennial, posttribulationism is as follows: Who will populate the millennium with mortals, if the rapture occurs in association with the second coming? Pretribulationists have no problem explaining how such a scenario will take place… [*1] However, for posttribulationism this issue is in my opinion an unsolvable problem. [*2] If the posttribulational view that rapture occurs in conjunction with the second coming is accepted, then the rapture event will result in all believers alive at Christ’s return being transformed from their current mortal state to immortality via a translation to heaven. [*3] Since all unbelievers will be judged or killed at Christ’s return (Matt. 13:30, 36–43, 47–50; 24:36–41; 25:30, 31–46), thus, there will be no mortals left to enter into the thousand-year reign of Christ. [*4] For example in Matthew 25:31–46, the sheep and goat judgment that will take place shortly after the second coming, how will any goats (unbelievers) make it into the [*5] kingdom? After placing the goats on the left, the text is clear when it says, [*6] Then He will also say to those on His left, Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; … And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (Matt. 25:41, 46 ). [*7] It is not surprising that very few posttribulationists even attempt to answer this issue in their writings. END QUOTE

This quote by Thomas Ice seems at face value to have a bit of scholarly merit about it; but a closer examination proves otherwise. I see at least seven statements in this one quote which are (right or wrong) merely unsupported opinion; and not things that are expressly stated in the Bible. Statements that are presupposed, and then read into the issue at hand.

Presumption 1). There is no proper answer apart from a pre-trib perspective; it is an unsolvable problem. This predetermined conclusion firmly closes the ears of the one asking the question, and thus makes any corrective teaching offered merit-less as it contradicts what is (in their mind) absolute fact. What is the sense in talking to someone who has their ears plugged? Save your breath!

Presumption 2). If that rapture occurs at the Second Coming ALL believers alive at Christ’s return will be transformed to immortality via a **translation to heaven. But we must ask ourselves here: are all believers caught away at Christ’s Return; or are there some who were not ready for that event and left behind? Notice how they have hijacked the ‘left behind’ concept and applied it to their own pre-trib theory; BUT they refuse to acknowledge that concept in regard to the Second Coming (which is the context it was stolen from in the first place)! The Scriptures clearly indicate some believers will not be ready for the Return of Christ. Are the foolish virgins destroyed with the wicked for running short on oil? Opinions vary greatly on that topic.

**{There is nothing in the Bible that says the catching away is a ‘translation’ that takes the Church to Heaven. More pre-trib error}

Presumption 3). All unbelievers will be killed at Christ’s Second Coming. As we will see later the statement that: ‘in a post-trib catching away scenario every one else but the resurrected Christians perishes’ is not in line with the Word. Post-trib theory actually teaches no such thing; this notion is forced into the mix by the one espousing this ‘proof’.

FOOD 4 THOUGHT:   And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. Daniel 12:11-12

What was meant by the words ‘blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the 1,335 days’? If all were killed by the wrath of God at the return of Christ there would be no one alive to be the recipient of this blessedness.

Presumption 4). The sheep / goat judgment will take place immediately after the Second Coming. It says in Matthew 25:31-32 that Christ will be seated on his throne for this judgment. It does not say how long he will have been enthroned when this judgment takes place. Some believe it will be 1000 years later (I personally don’t). But we do not know for sure if this judgment is right after he returns, or possibly at the end of the millennium. Any claim of timing is speculative.

Presumption 5). The Kingdom being referred to is the millennial Kingdom. Those who believe the sheep / goat judgment, and the damnation of the wicked, takes place at the end of the millennium say this is the eternal Kingdom being spoken of here, not the millennial Kingdom. There is no way to prove this either way by the Scriptures that I am aware of; it is just opinion.

Presumption 6). Again we see a presumption of timing expressed here. Just man’s opinion.

Presumption 7). Very few post-trib adherents deal with this issue in their writings. He gives here the impression his proof is so solid no one dares to question it! This is actually a very misleading statement; and in fact a total falsehood! What world is he living in? Nearly every post-trib author I know addresses this ‘proof’ in one fashion or another. And most categorize it as an over-inflated non-issue as the Scriptures themselves make this ‘unshakable proof’ into a moot point which we shall now see.

(SIDE NOTE: Please understand this: I am not saying I agree with all the alternative beliefs I gave to counter Mr. Ice’s opinionated suppositions; or even that I disagree with all his notions. Some of it he does have right in my estimation. I am just attempting to show how they inflate the issue into something huge and formidable, stating mere opinions as ‘Bible Truth’, in order to build a fortress (straw-man argument) in which they can shelter themselves from the truths which debunk their pre-trib theory.

As long as they have their indisputable ‘who will populate proof’ to retreat to, they can tag every argument presented as invalid (at least in their own minds). But in reality their ‘proof’ is more of a hole in the sand with an upside down body protruding from it, than any stronghold of doctrinal truth. And they need to pull their head out, and examine the rest of the Bible to see if they are in sync with the truth or not. And they are certainly not!)

The Witness Of The Word

Let’s lay aside these speculations, presumptions, and opinions of man; and read what the Bible really has to say on this issue of who will populate the millennium. As I said it’s as simple as believing what we read in the Scriptures. The book of Zechariah has something very enlightening to bring our way.

Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. Zechariah 14:1-3

The 14th chapter of Zechariah is clearly a description of the coming of our Lord. and the events associated with the time of his Return. The nations of the world will confederate to attack and occupy God’s beloved city. But it seems he is going to take that a little personally! The passage teaches he will vanquish those who have come against Jerusalem, and set her free once again. Now notice what he says of the citizens of those warring nations who do not participate, or who are not destroyed, in this battle.

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. Zechariah 14:16-18

To obfuscate the clear point made here pre-tribbers will twist and tussle and wrest and wrangle with this passage. But in the end it clearly says what it clearly says. There will be survivors of all those nations who came against Israel who will enter the millennium! And this simple observation answers our question in a simple fashion.

We see it is not the ‘unsolvable problem’ Mr. Ice made it out to be, now is it? When we unload the question of all its pre-trib baggage, and look to the Word of God, we see this unpalatable giant ole’ pretzel of an issue (that they made it out to be) is turned into a tiny little bread stick easily consumed and digested. It is truly the irrelevant non-issue that so many post-trib authors, including yours truly, have long said it was.

It turns out to be just one more pre-trib proof that is no proof at all!

These people who have entered the millennium are NOT the Resurrected Church; and they are NOT national Israel. It clearly and plainly labels them as heathen. It also clearly and plainly says they are the survivors of the battle of Armageddon; not the rebellious descendants of the believing Jews who re-populated the planet (as most pre-trib teachers will erroneously state). It says ‘every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem’. Clearly a reference to those not destroyed in the battle of Armageddon. Sorry Mr. Ice, you are wresting the Word of God here, and promoting gross error.

We also find indication of survivors in Daniel’s vision of the end-time kingdoms who enter the millennium. Let’s look at that passage.

As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. 13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:12

A study of Daniel chapter 7 shows another description of the return of our Savior to rule and riegn. We see there the Beast kingdom is destroyed, but the other three end-time kingdoms are spared, although brought down from a position of dominion. The reference to ‘people, nations, and languages’ prohibits the notion this is talking about the saved Jews who made it through the tribulation. This is clearly a large diverse group of people.

But brother Paul, doesn’t the Bible say ALL the *unbelievers are destroyed at Christ’s return? Does it? Only if you hold to a presupposed notion of such, impose that notion upon certain passages, and choose to ignore the full counsel of the rest of the Scriptures. Obviously some folk have drawn some incorrect conclusions concerning eschatology, and worked quite diligently to integrate them into the belief system of the Body of Christ.

*This may take some of you by surprise: The judgment of the sheep and goats is not about believers versus unbelievers. It is about the righteous versus the wicked. At the return of Christ ALL will become believers. Faith is no longer necessary when Jesus is right there before your eyes. Wicked, righteous, undecided, too young to know right and wrong, or too old and callused to change your ways, YOU WILL BELIEVE in Jesus Christ in that day! There will be no unbelievers left! All who enter the millennium (saved or unsaved) will believe in God in that day. The question is: will they serve him?

Some other possible sources of people who could make the transition into the millennium might be the children of the wicked who are too young to knowingly accept the Mark of the Beast (Hat tip John Little Omegashock.com), backslid or lukewarm Christians (foolish virgins), or possibly those like Cornelius (Acts ch. 10) who though not yet saved was viewed by God as a just man. Is Jesus going to destroy innocent children, stumbled Christians, or those like Cornelius when he returns? I have a problem accepting that.

Exiting Stage Before The Curtain Falls!

I realize that in this article I have not thoroughly addressed each and every facet of their suppositions concerning the matter, or even every claim of theirs which seems to carry some validity. I could have said a lot more.

But please, EXCUSE ME! if I do not feel a great need to.

If I can see good solid evidence of unsaved mortals entering the millennium in the Word of God, then that is enough to make their proof into a non-proof. Let them wrestle with their wayward understanding of the issue, and all their straw-man arguments which allow them to cast aside proper reasoning. I’ll find something else more fruitful to apply myself to (rather than try and teach truth to someone who is fully persuaded nothing I have to say could ever solve their unsolvable problems)! I’ll focus my attention instead upon those with ears to hear, and who prayerfully consider what is presented to them.

Hopefully that is describing you!

May the good hand of God be upon our efforts to seek out his truth in this age of great deception and apostasy;

Paul Benson

http://www.paulbenson.me

 

 

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