Introduction

Will the Jews return to Palestine? The foundation of Premillennialism teaching is simply this: the Jews will return to Palestine. So, let’s go ahead and see what the Scriptures actually teach.

The land promised

Notice God’s promise to Abraham.

‘The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s home, and GO TO A LAND that I am going to show you. I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse those who curse you. And through you I will bless all the nations.’ Genesis 12:1-3

God asked Abraham to leave a thriving world, but Abraham didn’t know where he was going. Notice now, God’s covenant with Abraham, Abraham fell into a trance.

‘When the sun had set, and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch suddenly appeared and passed between the pieces of the animals.’ Genesis 15:17

Normally, two people would walk between the animals and make a covenant, but on this occasion, it was only God
who walked through, not Abraham.

‘Then and there, the Lord made a covenant with Abram. He said, ‘I promise to give your descendants ALL THIS LAND from the border of Egypt to the Euphrates River, including THE LANDS of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.’ Genesis 15:18-21

This is speaking of a land that isn’t theirs and won’t be for another for four hundred years, Egypt. Why? Because God was preparing them. Remember, they were used to living in tents, and so God wanted to give them stability.

‘The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s home, and go to a LAND that I am going to show you. I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse those who curse you. And through you I will bless all the nations.’ Genesis 12:1-3

In God’s promises to Abraham, there are seven promises. Land promise, Possessions, Protection and Prosperity, ‘a son’.

‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.’ Genesis 3:15

Premillennialists don’t believe the promise was fulfilled, but the Bible says otherwise.

The land promise fulfilled

‘I gave you A LAND that you had never worked and cities that you had not built. Now YOU ARE LIVING THERE and eating grapes from vines that you did not plant, and olives from trees that you did not plant.’ ‘Now then,’ Joshua continued, ‘honour the Lord and serve him sincerely and faithfully. Get rid of the gods which your ancestors used to worship in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve only the Lord. If you are not willing to serve him, decide today whom you will serve: the gods your ancestors worshipped in Mesopotamia or the gods of the Amorites, in whose LAND you are now living. As for my family and me, we will serve the Lord.’ The people replied, ‘We would never leave the Lord to serve other gods! The Lord our God brought our fathers and us out of slavery in Egypt, and we saw the miracles that he performed. He kept us safe wherever we went among all the nations through which we passed. As we advanced into THIS LAND, the Lord drove out all the Amorites who lived here. So, we also will serve the Lord; he is our God.’ Joshua said to the people, ‘But you may not be able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God and will not forgive your sins. He will tolerate no rivals, and if you leave him to serve foreign gods, he will turn against you and punish you. He will destroy you, even though he was good to you before.’ The people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.’ Joshua told them, ‘You are your own witnesses to the fact that you have chosen to serve the Lord.’ ‘Yes,’ they said, ‘we are witnesses.’ ‘Then get rid of those foreign gods that you have,’ he demanded, ‘and pledge your loyalty to the Lord, the God of Israel.’ The people then said to Joshua, ‘We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey his commands.’ So, Joshua made a covenant for the people that day, and there at Shechem, he gave them laws and rules to follow. Joshua wrote these commands in the book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up under the oak tree in the Lord’s sanctuary. He said to all the people, ‘This stone will be our witness. It has heard all the words that the Lord has spoken to us. So, it will be a witness against you, to keep you from rebelling against your God.’ Joshua 24:13-27

‘Think of the past, of the time long ago; ask your parents to tell you what happened, ask the old people to tell of the past’. Deuteronomy 32:7

‘They sacrificed to gods that are not real, new gods their ancestors had never known, gods that Israel had never obeyed’. Deuteronomy 32:17

‘On that day, the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give THIS LAND, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— THE LAND of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.’ Genesis 15:18-21

Further proof that the land promise was fulfilled

‘You found that he was faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him. You promised to give him THE LAND of the Canaanites, the LAND of the Hittites and the Amorites, THE LAND of the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Girgashites, to be A LAND where his descendants would live. You kept your promise, because you are faithful.’ Nehemiah 9:8

‘So the Lord gave to Israel ALL THE LAND that he had solemnly promised their ancestors he would give them. When they had taken possession of it, they settled down there.’ Joshua 21:43

So very clearly, we see that God kept His promise and gave them the land, so the notion or idea that the promise of land was never fulfilled is flawed.

The land promise was conditional

‘IF you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your God— the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. He will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed. You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left but few in number, because you did not obey the LORD your God. Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted from THE LAND you are entering to possess.’ Deuteronomy 28:58-63

At the end of the book of Joshua, he gives the people a strong reminder that they need to obey the Law, Joshua 23:6. If they fail, the consequence will be exile.

‘If you violate the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish FROM THE GOOD LAND he has given you.’ Joshua 23:16

God had made it clear that if Israel were not obedient, He would send them into exile. That is why the exile happened.

‘Therefore, the LORD rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence.’ 2 Kings 17:20

God says if you are obedient, good things will happen; if you are disobedient, bad things will happen.

An object lesson

Israel was supposed to be an object lesson.

‘Now, if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own people. The whole earth is mine, but you will be my chosen people, a people dedicated to me alone, and you will serve me as priests.’ Exodus 19:5-6

They were supposed to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. They were to bring the world back to God. They were to act like mediators between the world and God. The tribe of Levi was chosen to mediate between the Israelites and God.

‘Moses said to the Levites, “Today you have consecrated yourselves as priests in the service of the Lord by killing your sons and brothers, so the LORD has given you his blessing.’ Exodus 32:29

During the captivity, ten tribes never returned home. Two tribes did, Judah and Benjamin, as God had promised.

‘This is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place.’ Jeremiah 21:10

‘In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfil the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: ‘This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’ Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.’ Ezra 1:1-5

Israel rejected

‘Listen to another parable,’ Jesus said. ‘There was once a LANDOWNER who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to tenants and left home on a trip. When the time came to gather the grapes, he sent his slaves to the tenants to receive his share of the harvest. The tenants grabbed his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, the man sent other slaves, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all he sent his son to them. ‘Surely, they will respect my son,’ he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the owner’s son. Come on, let’s kill him, and we will get his property!’ So, they grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ Jesus asked. ‘He will certainly kill those evil men,’ they answered, ‘and rent the vineyard out to other tenants, who will give him his share of the harvest at the right time.” Jesus said to them, ‘Haven’t you ever read what the Scriptures say?’ The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all. This was done by the Lord; what a wonderful sight it is!’ ‘And so, I tell you,’ added Jesus, ‘the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the proper fruits.’ The chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables and knew that he was talking about them, so they tried to arrest him. But they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet’. Matthew 21:33-46

Jesus’ parable signifies the very moment that God rejected Israel.

God’s original plan fulfilled

‘But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvellous light. At one time, you were not God’s people, but now you are his people; at one time, you did not know God’s mercy, but now you have received his mercy’. 1 Peter 2:9-10

As we looked at earlier, Israel was supposed to be an object lesson, Exodus 19:5-6. They were supposed to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. They were to bring the world back to God.

They were to act like mediators between the world and God, and now Peter says all Christians are a holy nation of priests, and now the Gentiles would be the new Israel.

The vine was the symbol of Israel

‘I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit. You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you. Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way, you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. ‘I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me. Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it. My Father’s glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way, you become my disciples.’ John 15:1-8

The Gospel of John is a book of ‘signs’.

‘In his disciples’ presence, Jesus performed many other SIGNS which are not written down in this book. But these have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in him you may have life.’ John 20:30-31

John never uses the word ‘miracle’ in his Gospel; he always uses the word ‘sign’. A miracle was the demonstration of power, which creates wonder, which is a sign that signifies. Sixteen times, Jesus does this in John’s Gospel. Eight signs were through the things He said, and eight signs through the things He did, miracles.

Salvation

The Bible tells us that all Israel can be saved; salvation is now possible. This way, Israel can be saved in the same way.

‘You Gentiles are like the branch of a wild olive tree that is broken off and then, contrary to nature, is joined to a cultivated olive tree. The Jews are like this cultivated tree; and it will be much easier for God to join these broken-off branches to their own tree again. There is a secret truth, my friends, which I want you to know, for it will keep you from thinking how wise you are. It is that the stubbornness of the people of Israel is not permanent, but will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to God. And this is how all Israel will be saved. As the scripture says, ‘The Saviour will come from Zion and remove all wickedness from the descendants of Jacob. I will make this covenant with them when I take away their sins.’ Romans 11:24-27

Inherit the land

What does it mean when the Bible talks about ‘inheriting the earth’ or inheriting the land?

‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth’. Matthew 5:5

Basically, it means blessings for those who obey the covenant. There is no concept of heaven in the Old Testament; there were two promises. Prosperity and occupancy of the land. Eternal life is never promised in the Old Testament.

‘But the meek shall inherit the LAND and delight themselves in abundant peace’. Psalm 73:11

Jesus brought life and immortality to light.

‘This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.’ 2 Timothy 1:9-10

A new land promised

“It was in faith that all these persons died. They did not receive the things God had promised, but from a long way off they saw them and welcomed them, and admitted openly that they were foreigners and refugees on earth. Those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. They did not keep thinking about the country they had left; if they had, they would have had the chance to return. Instead, it was a better country they longed for, the heavenly country. And so, God is not ashamed for them to call him their God, because he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16

God isn’t ashamed to be their God, and He has a prepared city, but not here on earth, heaven, but in the meantime, Christ must remain ruler until the last enemy is conquered. Christ will conquer death at his final coming.

‘For Christ must rule until God defeats all enemies and puts them under his feet. The last enemy to be defeated will be death.’ 1 Corinthians 15:25-26

Summary of God’s Promise to Abraham

The doctrine of premillennialism asserts that God ‘unconditionally’ promised Canaan to the descendants of Abraham. They also teach that the promise has never been completely granted; hence, the claim is made that the Jews eventually will be restored to Palestine in order that the Abrahamic covenant might be fulfilled.

Some actually teach that, with the establishment of Israel as an independent government in 1948, the Jewish restoration was begun, and this is a signal of the imminent return of Jesus Christ. As we looked at earlier, this idea isn’t in line with what the Scriptures teach.

Concerning Canaan, God promised Abraham the following.

‘To your offspring I will give this LAND.’ Genesis 12:7

This land covenant with the patriarch involved all THAT LAND ‘from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates’, Genesis 15:18, and it was pledged to his offspring ‘for ever’, Genesis 13:15.

Was the Promise Ever Totally Fulfilled?

When the law of Moses was given, provision was made for the establishment of cities of refuge where the manslayer who had killed without premeditation might flee for the preservation of his life. Initially, three cities were to be set aside for this purpose. Moses declared, however:

‘If the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he promised on oath to your ancestors, and gives you THE WHOLE LAND he promised them, because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today—to love the LORD your God and to walk always in obedience to him—then you are to set aside three more cities.’ Deuteronomy 19:8-9

Thus, six cities of refuge would be evidence of the substantial fulfilment of the land promise to Abraham’s seed. A reading of Joshua 20:7-8 reveals that the cities of Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan were assigned as havens of refuge—six cities. Thus, ‘ALL THE LAND’ had been given, and the land covenant has been fulfilled!

This is further demonstrated by Joshua 21:43 ‘So the LORD gave Israel ALL THE LAND he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.’ This refers principally to Canaan.

There was to be some expansion later. Scripture specifically states of Solomon’s time, ‘And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to THE LAND of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt,’ 1 Kings 4:21.

‘He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to THE LAND of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.’ 2 Chronicles 9:26

Finally, Nehemiah rehearses the fact that God brought Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees to give him the land of Canaan, and says the following.

‘You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham. You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants THE LAND of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous.’ Nehemiah 9:7-8

It is tragic that the premillennial theory implies the opposite.

What Is the Meaning of ‘Forever’?

But millennialists contend that Palestine was promised to Israel ‘forever’, Genesis 13:15. This fails to recognise, of course, that the term ‘forever’ isn’t always used in the Bible in a completely unlimited sense.

For instance, circumcision was an ‘everlasting covenant’, Genesis 17:13; the Passover was an ordinance ‘for ever’, Exodus 12:14; and the Levitical system had an ‘everlasting priesthood’, Numbers 25:13.

These Old Testament institutions, however, passed away with the abrogation of the law, thus demonstrating that ‘for ever’ sometimes has a temporary significance.

Was the Promise Conditional?

The truth of the matter is, the Old Testament clearly indicates that Israel’s possession of Palestine was conditioned upon their faithfulness to God, a condition which they violated repeatedly, hence, it was foretold.

‘If you violate the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good LAND he has given you’. Joshua 23:16

That time eventually came, and the Jews lost their ‘deed’ to the Promised Land!

God’s Visual Aid

In the nineteenth chapter of the book that bears his name, the prophet Jeremiah was instructed by God to do the following.

‘Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take along some of the elders of the people and of the priests and go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom, near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. There, proclaim the words I tell you, and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah and people of Jerusalem. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Listen! I am going to bring a disaster on this place that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.’ Jeremiah 19:1-3

Subsequently, he was told to go to the valley of Hinnom and prophesy to the inhabitants of Jerusalem concerning their sins and their eventual destruction. As a symbol of this promised punishment, Jeremiah was commanded to ‘break the bottle’ and to proclaim its meaning.

‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter’s jar is smashed and cannot be repaired’. Jeremiah 19:11

This prophecy was partially fulfilled with a siege of the Babylonians in 586 B.C. 2 Kings 25, but was completely and ultimately fulfilled with the destruction of national Israel by the Romans in A.D. 70.

After the Jewish nation was destroyed, it was so permanently scattered by the providence of God that it ‘cannot be repaired’. Regardless of the fact that some Jews are migrating back to Palestine, they will never be restored as God’s nation!

The Pronouncement of Christ

Further evidence that national Israel will never be restored is found within the teaching of Christ himself. In Matthew 21, Jesus told what is called the parable of the wicked husbandmen, the design of which was to emphasise how wretchedly the Jews had treated God’s prophets, such rebellion reaching its zenith with the crucifixion of Christ.

Because of their rejection of Jehovah’s precious stone, the Lord said to the Jews the following.

‘Therefore, I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Matthew 21:43

The inspired apostle Peter unquestionably declares that the ‘nation’ to be henceforth so blessed is God’s ‘holy nation,’ the church.

‘Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and, ‘A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the message, which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.’ 1 Peter 2:7-10

The Bible is exceedingly clear: Christians are the seed of Abraham.

‘So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise’. Galatians 3:26-29

Christians are the Israel of God.

‘Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.’ Galatians 6:16

Some useful Prophecies and their fulfilment

Classifications of the prophecies

1. Moses, 1500 BC. Nine hundred years before the captivity.

Deuteronomy 4:27 was fulfilled in the captivity, Deuteronomy 6:10-15. Deuteronomy 29:30 was fulfilled in the return, Nehemiah 1:8-10. Leviticus 26:40-45 was fulfilled in the return, Jeremiah 29:10-12.

2. Joshua, 1500 BC. Nine hundred 900 years before captivity.

When we read Joshua 21:43-45, we read that nothing failed, Joshua 23:14-16. The Promises were conditional; if they do evil, they will lose the land

3. Samuel, 1000 BC. Four hundred years before captivity.

2 Samuel 7:12-16, son on the throne while David slept, 1 Chronicles 17:11 / Hebrews 1:5 / Acts 2:29.

4. David, 1000 BC. Four hundred 400 years before captivity, Psalm 2 / Psalm 89 / Psalm 110 / Psalm 132.

All quoted in the New Testament, all fulfilled.

5. Isaiah, 700 BC. One hundred years before the captivity.

Prophesied in Judah about the time the kingdom of Israel was destroyed.

Isaiah 2. A series of fulfilled prophecies. Romans 15:10-12.
Isaiah 11. A series of fulfilled prophecies. Romans 15:10-12.
Isaiah 35. A series of fulfilled prophecies. Romans 15:10-12.

6. Jeremiah, 629 BC. Prophesied during the siege of Jerusalem.

Restoration prophesies fulfilled in the proclamation of Cyrus, 2 Chronicles 36:20-23 / Ezra 1:1-4.

7. Ezekiel, 595 BC. Prophesied in Babylon during the Exile.

Foretold restoration of Israel and the kingdom of Christ, the church, Ezekiel 34:36-37.

8. Daniel, 609 BC. Prophesied in Babylon during Exile, Daniel 2:44 / Daniel 7:13-14 / Mark 1:14-15 / Hebrews 12:28.

9. Minor prophets, 800 BC. To 500 BC.

Prophesied before and during Exile and in the return period of one hundred years. Not one New Testament promise of national restoration.

The Promised Land, Joshua 21-24

1. The land promised to Abraham. Genesis 12:7 / Genesis 13:14-15.

2. The larger land of Canaan. Genesis 15:18 / Exodus 23:30-31 / Nehemiah 9:7-8.

3. The land possessed by Israel. Deuteronomy 1:7-8 / Joshua 24:28.

4. Enemy nations not driven out. Judges 2:20-23.

5. David recovered the land. 2 Samuel 8:3 / 2 Kings 14:25.

6. Solomon reigned over all the land. 1 Kings 4:21 / 2 Chronicles 9:36.

Nothing failed. All came to pass.

Israel in the Old Testament

1. The land promised to Abraham, Genesis 13:15 / Genesis 15:18 / Genesis 17:7-8.

2. The land inhabited by Israel, Exodus 6:4-8 / Joshua 21:43-45.

3. The inheritance was conditional, Joshua 23:15 / Deuteronomy 6:10 / Deuteronomy 8:19-20.

4. That “if you do, if you don’t”, enforced, Jeremiah 18:1-10.

A. Moses said they would perish, Deuteronomy 30:17-18.

B. Joshua said they would lose their inheritance, Joshua 23:12-16.

C. Jeremiah said they could not be restored, Jeremiah 19:1-11.

Israel in the New Testament, Galatians 6:15-16

1. The last state of the Jews was worse than the first, Matthew 12:45.

2. Kingdom taken from the Jews, given to another, Matthew 21:43 / 1 Peter 2:7-10.

3. The national crime invoked penalty, death, Matthew 21:33-45.

4. Abraham’s seed is no longer with the Jews, Galatians 3:28-29.

5. God’s Jew no longer of Abraham’s flesh but of Abraham’s faith, Romans 4:16.

6. Christian Gentiles are God’s Jews, Romans 2:28-29.

7. Circumcision of flesh gives place to circumcision of the heart, Colossians 2:11-12.

8. Conversion of a Jew destroys nationality, Ephesians 2:16 / Galatians 6:15.

9. Old Israel has no further place in the picture, Galatians 3:26-29.

10. The church is now the Israel of God, Galatians 6:15-16.

11. Paul renounced Jewish nationality for Christ, Philippians 3:2-8

12. The hope of Israel is not national restoration. Acts 26:6-7 / Acts 28:20.

No way to harmonise Premillennialism doctrine with what Paul preached.

Paul’s allegory, Galatians 4:21-31

1. Two women, two covenants, old and new.

2. Two sons, two nations, fleshly and spiritual.

3. Hagar and Ishmael had nothing in common with Sarah and Isaac.

4. “Cast out the handmaid and her son”, the final verdict, Galatians 4:30.

National Israel has nothing in common with spiritual Israel.

Restoration difficulties

1. Promised based on keeping the Law of Moses, Deuteronomy 30:1-18 / Nehemiah 1:7-10.

2. The Law of Moses was abolished, Ephesians 2:14-16.

3. Inheritance only through the family estate, Leviticus 25 / Ezra 2:70 / Jeremiah 12:14.

4. Genealogies perished, forbidden, 1 Timothy 1:4 / Titus 3:9.

5. Northern kingdom, ten tribes lost, can never be restored, Hosea 1:4-6.

6. The earthly throne of David is extinct with Coniah, Jeremiah 22:29-30.

Jesus Christ cannot occupy David’s throne on earth.

Kingdom prophecies fulfilled

1. Daniel 2:44 / Mark 1:14-15, time fulfilled.

2. Hebrews 12:28, kingdom received.

3. Daniel 7:13 / Acts 1:8-9, ascending in the clouds.

4. Mark 9:1, the kingdom to come with the power.

5. Acts 2:1-4, power on Pentecost.

6. Isaiah 2:2 / Hebrews 12:22, have come to the mount.

7. Daniel 2:44 / Hebrews 12:28 / have received the kingdom.

8. “In days of these kings”, fulfilled, Mark 1:14-15.

9. “Coming to ancient days”, fulfilled, Acts 1:9.

“Kingdom shall stand forever”, fulfilled, Hebrews 12:28.

Some people deny that Christ has a kingdom now.

Pentecost

Joel 2 / Ephesians 2

Isaiah 2 / Colossians 2

Daniel 2 / Hebrews 2

The reign of Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

1. Raised to sit on the throne. (God’s right hand). Until the end, Acts 2:29-34.

2. Ascended, sat on the throne. (God’s right hand). Until the end, Hebrews 1:3-13.

3. Must reign in heaven. (God’s right hand). Until the end, Hebrews 10:12-13.

The Reign of Christ continues from Pentecost to the end of time

Christians reign with Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:24 / Revelation 5:8-10.

1. Kings and priests now, Exodus 19:6 / Revelation 1:6.

2. Reign in life through right, Romans 5:17.

3. Reign with apostles, 1 Corinthians 4:8.

4. Reign by righteous judgement, 1 Corinthians 6:2-3.

5. Reign by enduring, 2 Timothy 2:12.

6. Reign by overcoming, Revelation 3:21.

7. Ruling over the nations, Revelation 2:25-26.

Christ reigns now, Christians reign now.

Living and reigning with Christ

1. He that overcomes, will sit, Revelation 3:21

2. He that endures, shall reign, 2 Timothy 2:11-12

3. He that eats, shall live, John 6:51-58.

4. Christians live now, Sit in his throne now, Reign now, Romans 5:17 / Revelation 2:25-26 / Acts 2.

Why bring Christ back to earth? John 7:1-10.

1. His mission of redemption is complete, Ephesians 1:7-10 / Colossians 1:13-14.

2. His revelation is complete, Ephesians 3:1-10 / Jude 3.

3. His authority is complete, Matthew 28:18 / Ephesians 1:2-23.

4. His kingdom is complete, Colossians 1:13 / Hebrews 12:28.

5. His throne is complete, Hebrews 4:14 / Revelation 3:21.

6. His name is complete, Ephesians 1:22 / Colossians 3:17.

7. His glory is complete, Luke 24:24 / 1 Peter 1:20-21.

His work on earth is finished.

1. Coniah and Christ.

1. Jeremiah 22:30 / Matthew 1:12.

2. King James. Revised Version.

3. Jeconiah Begat Salathiel. Jeconiah begat Shealtiel.

4. Salathiel begat Zorobabel. 4. Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel.

The seed of David through Coniah.

2. Coniah and Christ.

1. King James. Revised Version.

2. Zorobabel, Son of Salathiel. Zerubbabel, Son of Shealtiel.

3. Salathiel, Son of Neri. Shealtiel, Son of Neri.

4. Jeconiah, Assir, Salathiel, his Son. Jeconiah, Captive, Shealtiel, his Son.

No man of his seed on David’s earthly throne.

King and Priest, Zechariah 6:12-13

1. He shall build the temple, 1 Corinthians 3:16.

2. He shall sit on the throne, Acts 2:34.

3. He shall rule on his throne, Hebrews 1:8.

4. He shall be priest on his throne, Hebrews 4:14 / Hebrews 8:4.

5. He sits, rules, priest, on the throne now, Psalm 110 / Hebrews 5:6-11.

Christ is priest after the order of Melchizedek; therefore, he is king and priest at the same time now in heaven.

Mark 13 / Luke 21

1. The great tribulation, not the premillennial period.

a. Disciples flee, Matthew 24:16, according to premillennial. None on earth.

b. Pray not in winter, Exposure.

c. Nor on Sabbath, Jewish authorities.

Voids the Premillennialism application.

2. The destruction of Jerusalem.

a. The temple buildings, Matthew 24:1-4 / Luke 21:6.

b. Destruction of the temple, end of Jewish state, Matthew 24:3 / Matthew 24:32-26 / Mark 13:14.

c. Day of visitation, Luke 19:41-44 / Isaiah 13:5-10, Babylon, Isaiah 19:11, Egypt.

3. The signs of impending destruction.

a. False teachers, Matthew 24:5, numerous before siege, Josephus.

b. Wars, Matthew 24:6, all nations at war with the Romans, Josephus.

c. Famines, Matthew 24:7, raged in Judea, Acts 11:28, Josephus.

d. Earthquakes, Matthew 24:7, during the reign of Nero, Asia Minor, Horne.

e. Delivered to death, Matthew 24:9, Paul, Peter, James, all before the destruction of Jerusalem.

f. Apostasy, Matthew 24:10, evidences of apostasy everywhere, persecutions.

g. Gospel to the whole world, Matthew 24:14 / Colossians 1:23, to every creature.

4. Then shall the end come.

a. Abomination of desolation, Matthew 24:15, Romans. Symbols, standards.

b. Disciples’ escape, Matthew 24:16-20, Fled to Dela, northern Perea.

c. After tribulation, Matthew 24:29, fall of Jerusalem, Mark 13:14-20 / Luke 21:24-31.

d. Signs in heaven, Matthew 24:29-30, darkness settles on the Jewish nation, Isaiah 13, same description of the destruction of Babylon.

e. Coming of the Son of man, Matthew 24:30, spiritual presence, John 14:18 / Matthew 26:64.

f. Send forth angels, Matthew 24:31, emissaries of the gospel.

g. Gather the elect, Matthew 24:31, diffusion of Christianity.

Generations pass. All these things were fulfilled.

The second coming of Christ

1. The end probation, 2 Peter 3:9 / 1 Peter 1:17.

2. The end of the world, 2 Peter 3:7-10.

3. The end of time, 1 Peter 4:7 / 1 Corinthians 1:7-8.

4. The resurrection of all the dead, John 5:20 / John 6:40.

5. The final judgment, John 12:48 / Matthew 25:31 / 2 Thessalonians 1:5-18.

6. The kingdom delivered, Luke 22:29 / 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.

7. Heaven, 2 Peter 3:13 / John 14:36 / 1 Peter 1:4 / Philippians 3:20.
No proof that Christ will ever set foot on earth again. Premillennialism

Things not mentioned in Revelation 20:1-6

1. It does not mention the second coming of Christ.

2. It does not mention a bodily resurrection.

3. It does not mention a reign on earth.

4. It does not mention the literal throne (of David).

5. It does not mention Jerusalem in Palestine.

6. It does not mention us.

7. It does not mention Christ on earth.

Curse pronounced on one who adds to the words of this book.

Literal or figurative, which? Revelation 19-20

1. A white horse and rider. 2. Armies, horses, war. 3. Sword made out of iron. 4. Rule, rod of iron. 5. Tread the wine press. 6. Name on his thigh. 7. Fowls fly to supper. 8. Eat flesh, king’s men, horses. 9. Fowls filled with their flesh. 10. Beast, mark, image.

11. Angel is coming down. 12. Key, chain, pit. 13. Dragon, trail stars. 14. Frogs out of the mouth. 15. Bound, bottomless pit. 16. Shut, sealed. 17. Thrones, beheaded. 18. Prison, loosed, ballet. 19. Camp of saints compassed. 20. Fire and brimstone.

Everything in this chapter is literal! Premillennialism.

The first resurrection

1. Israel in Babylon, Ezekiel 37:1-14.

“I will open your graves, you shall come out, live.”

2. The wicked lords, Isaiah 26:13-14.

“They are dead, shall not live, deceased shall not rise, thy dead men shall live, they shall rise”.

3. Israel in Christ, Romans 11:15.

“The receiving of them, life from the dead.”

4. The souls of the Martyrs, Revelation 6:9 / Revelation 20:4-5

“Souls of the slain, under the altar, souls of the beheaded, on the thrones.”

5. Exempt from second death, Revelation 2:11 / Revelation 20:6.

“He that overcomes, not hurt with second death, part in first resurrection, second death no power.”

The resurrection of a cause

The promises. The Law. The Gospel

No Sabbath command. The Sabbath command. No Sabbath command. No Sabbath example. The Sabbath example. No Sabbath example. No Sabbath penalty. The Sabbath penalty. No Sabbath penalty. 2500 years. 1500 years. 2000 years.

What the Bible says about the Seventh-day Sabbath. What the Bible says about the First day of the week.

1. That the covenant which included the Sabbath commandment was made with Israel only, Exodus 20:2 / Deuteronomy 5:15.

2. That Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week, Mark 16:1-9 / Luke 24:1 / Luke 13:21 / Luke 13:46.

3. That Israel was commanded to keep the Sabbath because they had been delivered from the serfdom of Egypt, Deuteronomy 5:15.

4. That on the first day of the week, he was thus declared to be the Son of God, Romans 1:4.

5. That giving them the Sabbath, God used the same day upon which He had rested or ceased the work of creation, Genesis 2:3 / Exodus 20:8-11 / Exodus 31:17.

6. That he met with his disciples repeatedly on the first day of the week between his resurrection and his ascension, John 20:1 / John 20:19 / John 20:26.

7. That the Sabbath was not given, or made known, until the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, Leviticus 23:15 / Nehemiah 9:13-14 / Ezekiel 20:10-12.

8. That Pentecost came on the first day of the week. Hence, all the events of Acts 2, the birthday of the church, took place on the first day of the week, Acts 2:1.

9. That the Sabbath was a sign between God and the children of Israel, Exodus 31:17 / Ezekiel 20:12 / Ezekiel 20:20. If all nations were commanded to keep the Sabbath, how could it have been a sign between God and one nation?

10. That the Holy Spirit filled the apostles on the first day of the week and began his mission of conversion, Acts 2:1-4.

11. That the old covenant made with Israel when they came out of Egypt, which included the Ten Commandments, 1 Kings 8:9 / 1 Kings 8:21, would be abrogated, Jeremiah 31:31, and superseded by the new covenant, Hebrews 8:6-13 / Hebrews 10:9.

12. That the first gospel sermon proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God was preached on the first day of the week, Acts 2:22-36.

13. That the Law which “was written and engraved on tables of stone” was done away in Christ, 2 Corinthians 3:6-14.

14. That three thousand souls, the first fruits of the gospel harvest, Leviticus 23:17, were added to the church which began on that Pentecost, the first day of the week, Acts 2:41 / Acts 2:47.

15. That the Law of “the handwriting of ordinances” was “nailed to the cross”, and the Sabbath, therefore, was no longer binding upon the Jews themselves, Colossians 2:14-16.

16. That the church assembled on the first day of the week to break bread, to observe the Lord’s supper, and other elements of New Testament worship, Acts 20:7 / Acts 2:42 / 1 Corinthians 16:2 / 1 Corinthians 11:23 / 1 Corinthians 11:33 / Hebrews 10:25.

17. That Hosea, the prophet, declared the Sabbath, with all other Jewish observances, would cease when the Gentiles should become the people of God, Hosea 2:11 / Hosea 2:23.

18. That in the New Testament, we have the following new things:

1. A new covenant, Hebrews 8: 13 / Hebrews 10:9-10.

2. A new institution, the church, Ephesians 1:20-23 / Colossians 1:18 / Colossians 2:10.

3. A new set of ordinances, commandments, 1 Corinthians 11:2.

4. A new day, the first day of the week, Acts 20:7 / 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.

5. A new word to express the new day, Kuriakos, “Lord’s day”, and “Lord’s table”, Revelation 1:10 / 1 Corinthians 10:21.

19. That the apostle Paul declared the Sabbath, with all other Jewish observances, did cease at the cross, and that we should let no man judge us respecting them, Colossians 2:14-16.

20. That Christians are expressly said to be delivered from the Law containing the Ten Commandments, Romans 7:4 / Romans 7:6-7.

21. That those who would be justified by the Law given at Sinai are severed from Christ and fallen from grace, Galatians 4:21-31 / Galatians 5:1-4.

Consequences of Millennialism

1. Denies that Christ is reigning now, Revelation 1:5-6 / Revelation 5-8.

2. Annuls this dispensation as the last days, Hebrews 1:1.

3. Makes God false to his promises, Mark 1:14-15.

4. Alternates Judaism and Christianity, Hebrews 8:5-7 / Hebrews 9:9-10.

5. Minimises gospel, belittles church, Ephesians 3:9-11.

6. Revokes the great commission, Matthew 28:19-20.

7. Nullifies salvation to Gentiles now, Acts 15:14-18.

8. Demote Christ from the throne in heaven to the earth, his footstool, Hebrews 1:3-13.

9. Makes the first coming of Christ a failure, Galatians 4:4-5 / John 17:1-14.

Millennialism is a mere theory based on a school of speculative interpretations.

Isaiah 2:1-5 / Ezekiel 34:20-26 / Ephesians 2:11-18

1. In the last days.

When Christ, the new David, shall be their shepherd, Ezekiel 34:23 / Ezekiel 37:24.

“Remember that at one time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:12-13

2. The Lord’s temple will be established.

‘One shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them, he will tend them and be their shepherd.’ Ezekiel 34:23

“His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God.” Ephesians 2:15-16

3. Out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

‘I will make a covenant of peace with them.’ Ezekiel 37:26

‘He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.’ Ephesians 2:17

4. By the new Law, he will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. (Plural), Isaiah 2:4 / Micah 4:3.

By the new covenant, he will judge between sheep and sheep. (Plural), Ezekiel 34:17 / Ezekiel 34:22.

‘Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men) abolishing in his flesh the law.’ Ephesians 2:11-15

5. In the new dispensation, under the new law, they will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. The nation will not take up the sword against the nation, nor will it be taught his ways anymore,’ Isaiah 2:4

Under the new covenant, there will be peace, evil beasts will cease out of the land, no more a prey, they shall sleep in the forests in safety, Ezekiel 34:25.

‘Through the cross, he has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by with its commandments and regulations, by which he put to death will they train for war their hostility.’ Ephesians 2:14

6. All are invited to come to the temple of the Lord, to walk in the light of the Lord, Isaiah 2.

Premillennialism