DE LOS EFECTOS DE LA PATRIA POTESTAD RESPECTO DE LA PERSONA DE LOS HIJOS

THE MILLENNIUM (Rev 20)

I. THE PREVIEW; THE VIEW FROM EARTH (20.1-3). 1) SATAN BOUND FOR 1000 YEARS.

“And I saw an Angel coming down from [place] of the (tou) (Third) Heaven, having the Key of the bottomless Pit and a great Chain on the hand of him. And he laid hold of the Dragon, the ancient Serpent, who is a Devil and the Satan, the [one] deceiving whole house of offsprings, and he bound him thousand years” - Rev 20.1-2.

AN ANGEL. The “key to the bottomless pit” identifies the Angel to be Iesous. First it is necessary, for proper understanding, to equate the “pit” (without depth) with “Hell.” Iesous teaches in parables, and so, symbolism is to be expected. Muhammad was given the key to the bottomless pit in order to release demons on the earth. (See: Rev 9.1-2.) The converts to the Islamic faith are the demons intended, for they denied the Son of the God. Iesous is the Keeper of the Keys, and He gives it to whom He will. The Beast (Papacy) is recorded to have ascended out of the bottomless pit, and to have killed the Two Witnesses of God. (See: Rev 11.7.) The Dark Ages were ushered in by the Papacy in AD 600. Physical Babylon “was, and is not, and [Spiritual Babylon: Papacy] will ascend out of the bottomless pit” (Rev 17.8). Babylon was ruler over Israel from 601-539 BC. She was not in AD 67, when John wrote Revelation. She would ascend in AD 600 as spiritual Babylon.

We conclude from all these premises that, figuratively speaking, “Hell equals the bottomless pit.” The Scripture under consideration describes Iesous with the key (singular) to the bottomless pit. Another Scripture declares Iesous to have the keys (plural) to “Hell and Death” (Rev 1.18). Hell has one key and Death has another. Therefore the plural keys of Hell and Death agree with the singular key of the bottomless pit. And, the Keeper of the Keys is Iesous! Why are Hell and Death separated?

Death includes the saved and the lost. (See: Jn 5.28-29.) Hell is the holding cell for the lost “only.” (See: Lk 16.23.) In conclusion, the Angel is Iesous because He has the key to the “pit” (Hell). This key represents the “words of life” from the Lord Iesous. (See: Mt 16.19.)

THE GREAT CHAIN. How do you chain a spirit? (Remember, this is allegorical!) God describes how the spirits are “chained” in Hell.

“For if the God (O Qeoj) did not spare angels having sinned, but agitating to Hell (Tarsaj), gave, being kept into judgment ” - 2 Pet 2.4.

Did you notice? The Bible records Iesous’ prophecies of the Islams and the Roman Catholics ascending out of Hell! Now (Rev 20.2) Satan will be cast back into the bottomless pit. Then, Satan was “loosed from his prison again” (Rev 20.7). Therefore, demons have been cast into Hell in the past, and they have ascended from Hell again, and are presently loosed upon the earth.

This is like the difference between Night and Day!

THE DAY. We should investigate these periods of Night and Day, to set the record straight. God does explain all of these phenomena for us. He would not leave us in the Dark. Men rebel against God, and Night “kings.” They repent, and return to their Maker, and Day “kings.” This is what the

Millennium is all about. Iesous, and His apostles, stated the case dogmatically.

“It is necessary I (eme) to be doing the works of The [One] having sent Me while it is Day (!); Night, he is coming when no one is able to work. When I might be in the world, being (eimi) Light of the world” - Jn 9.4-5.

Iesous was in the world “confirming the covenant with many for one seven (week)” [Dan 9.27]. The first half-week He was in the flesh (AD 28-32). The last half-week He was in the Spirit (AD 32-35). This was the Day; or, the Light: AD 28-35. Saul was trained to be an apostle (1 Cor 9.1), and the Gentiles were added to the kingdom, in the last half of the week (Acts 10.43-48).

THE NIGHT. The apostles are just as dogmatic about being in the Night! The Jews’ rebellion against God and Rome resulted in the persecution of the servants of God, and produced Night. Although the other apostles made mention of the Night, we will only quote Paul.

“The Night advanced (AD 35-58), and the Day has drawn near. We will put off therefore the doing of the darkness, and we will put on the weapons of the light (AD 77)” - Rom 13.12.

Paul mentions this period of Darkness again.

“For you accurately know yourselves that the Day of Lord (Kuriou) (War/Rome), so he comes as a thief in the Night (AD 35-77). For when they say, ‘Peace and safety,’ then suddenly destruction he will come on them just as labor of the [one] having [babe] in womb, and no, they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in Darkness, so that the Day (AD 77) should overtake you as a thief” - 1 Thes 5.2, 4.

[Remember our previous conclusion, shared with the reader, that apparent contradictions in the Bible are often resolved by recognizing two or more periods of time. The conditions described in one period of time do not have to agree with the circumstances pictured in another Age.]

In our observations on Revelation, Satan has been both chained and loosed. Although New Jerusalem is in the Morning of the Seventh Day, since the resurrection in AD 77, and she walks in the Light with Iesous, but the world is not so fortunate. (The apostles were in the Evening of the Seventh Day. Evening and Morning is one day. See: Gen 1.5.) The persecution of the Body of the Anointed, by pagan Rome, saw Satan loosed. The “war in Heaven” (Government), won by Constantine the Great in AD 312, resulted in Satan being bound. The Primacy of the Pope, in AD 600, caused Satan to be loosed once again. Then (Rev 20.2) Iesous had bound Satan for a thousand years. Today (Rev 20.7) Satan is loosed once more to meet his final doom (20.11-15).

PERIODS OF PROPHECY. Most commentators consider the “thousand years” to be a symbol for some unknown period of time. The believers in God assure us that it is a real period of time. The unbelievers use this fact, that it is a symbol, to promote unbelief. When the conditions bringing the Millennium about are reversed, then we will be able to date the end of the Millennium. Observation of kingdom history, when the Millennium began, is critical to recognizing the end of this glorious period of faith. Remember the signs of the Millennium for future use.

2) THE SEAL ON SATAN.

“and He (Iesous) cast him (Satan) into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and Sealed over him, so that he should deceive yet (eti) the nations till the thousand years were finished (20.7). With (Meta) these [things] it is necessary to be loosed him A Little Time (Jn 16.16 = 45 Years)” - Rev 20.3.

THE SEAL. “The Pope is the Antichrist” is half of the seal on Satan. Many Protestant reformers had published, and preached, these words. Many expositors of Revelation had also published these

words. “The Protestant denominations are the daughter prostitutes” is the other half of the seal on Satan. When men believed that the Bible is true, they also believed these conclusions. The churches do not believe this today, and so, they are not in the Millennium!

NOTE: “Antichrist” is a misnomer when applied to the Pope. Although the expositors were exposing the Pope as the “False Prophet,” they failed to employ the proper term. However, the result was the same as if they had recognized the proper term. “The Beast” was identified as the Papacy. The “Mother of Abominations” was taught to be the Roman Catholic Church. Therefore, the enemies of the God and of the he Lamb were named for the benefit of one and all. And, as a result of the “seal,” life was much better.

IN THE SAME HOUR (Rev 11.11-13). Iesous described the beginning of the Millennium twice before this place in the story (Rev 20.3). Both times it is connected to the fall of Babylon. Babylon begins to fall in One Day (One Year), and in the “same Hour” (15 Days) the Two Witnesses “ascended to Heaven (Government) in a cloud, and their enemies saw them” (Rev 11.12-13). This should be easy! If the enemies of the Bible saw them, then the friends of the Bible surely saw them too. Our determination for One Day has been: June 4, 1859 - May 1860. A second battle followed on June 24th. (See notes at Revelation 11.11-13.) Austria left the Papal State of Lombardy after the second defeat (#1). The preliminary peace was reached at the Council of Villafranca on July 11th (#2). The formal peace was at Zurich on Nov 10th (#3). “A tenth of the city (Babylon) fell” will relate to one of these dates. In other words, the Millennium began in 1859!

THE TWO WITNESSES RAISED UP. The Two Witnesses are essentially the Bible. They are both masculine (Prophets - 11.10) and feminine (lampstands - 11.4). Physical Israel, with God as her Husband, and the From Calling, with Iesous as her Bridegroom, are the Two Witnesses. Each one has a feminine Body and a masculine Head. History should reveal when the Bible was restored to Heaven, which is the government of the congregation. However, congregational reform takes time. The beginning of the process may be more easily determined than the completed operation. This is why the other premises are included in the picture of the Millennium. All of these factors were working in conjunction when the thousand years began: the Angel came down, with a key and a chain, and He bound Satan, and cast him in the pit, and put a seal on him, that he should deceive no more. We should be able to identify this period, with the Lord’s help. Here is another description.

THE EVERLASTING GOOD MESSAGE. The Jewish “good message” was temporary, for the men of earth who did not receive her, but it was eternal for the redeemed. This will always be “good news” to them! The resurrection in AD 77 was a crucial part of the Jewish good message. Although this is still good news today, that men of earth have been raised up to be with God, the “final resurrection” (Rev 20.11-15) is more critical to us today. The apostles’ “prophecy in part” (1 Cor 13.8-10) has been replaced by the “perfect” (Rev 13.10) prophecy of Iesous; meaning, the book of Revelation. The apostles taught this fact, and Iesous teaches this fact today. The “gift of the Holy Spirit” was prophesied to pass away. History will reveal what this new good message consists of today. (See the notes on Rev 14.6-8. Though the “gift of the Holy Spirit” is gone, the seven Spirits of God remain to ever.) As the ascending of the Two Witnesses was related to “the fall of a tenth of the city,” so the “everlasting good message” is joined to “Babylon is fallen (1860), is fallen (1870).”

3) THE HISTORY OF THE MILLENNIUM’S BEGINNING. What happened in 1859? When, and where, were the Two Witnesses allowed back in Heaven?

The process was long and gradual, but it was by the design of God to be completed when the “tenth of the city fell.” Meanwhile, what happened to men who were partially wrong? Iesous taught, in the first century, and He teaches today, that men are judged by what they know! This is understood in a limited sense. For otherwise, men would refuse to read the Bible to make sure that they did not know anything. The reader must bear in mind that Iesous was addressing the nation of Israel who had been raised up learning the Scriptures all of their lives. (See: Jn 9.41, 15.22-25.) Therefore, what they “know” is interpreted to mean “what they understand.” This conclusion, about “what they understand,” is evident from the fact that many were dying and being judged by the law of Moses in Iesous’ lifetime. Iesous

instructed His students to cover the land of Israel, teaching that the kingdom of God was at hand. Therefore, at one particular time, say in the year AD 38, some of Israel was judged by the law of Moses, and the remainder was obliged to conform to the teaching of the Anointed. God does not judge one who has not heard.

New Jerusalem was “in the wilderness” all of the 42 Months. The “great Prostitute was drunk with the blood of the holy ones.” Iesous had His “Two Witnesses” in the world, “prophesying in sackcloth” (Rev 11.3). Men were murdered for testifying of Iesous, and for translating the Bible into the native tongue of their fellowman. But Iesous had the correction process underway.

MARTIN LUTHER. Luther discovered that men are “saved by faith,” and not by the seven sacraments of the Papacy. This was a gigantic step for mankind. As Iesous taught “good and evil,” so Luther taught “good and evil.” Besides recognizing “saved by faith” and the “need of the Holy Spirit,” required by God, the duty to condemn the enemies of God was also undertaken. Judaism was the Prostitute in Iesous’ day, and Roman Catholicism was the great Prostitute in Luther’s time. Bible translations, and commentaries, and tracts, were utilized by Luther to free men from the “mark of the Beast.” Two of these tracts were entitled, “Babylonish Captivity of the Church,” and “Of the Papacy of Rome, Founded by the Devil.” [This is half the seal on Satan!]

But this was a period of semi-darkness, and Luther also wrote the “Augsburg Confession,” and two “Catechisms.” The traits of popery were showing through in his writings.

JOHN CALVIN. Calvin was another stiff opponent of popery, but he had his faults as did Luther. All of the leaders were still far from the truth, and this led to excessive divisions in the Protestant Reformation movement. The Catholic Church had always had divisions, and popes and antipopes, but, ignoring their own divisions, they considered divisions a sign of heresy among the Protestants. For hundreds of years the Catholics were divided into Arians and Orthodox, and Monophysites and Regulars. If their assumption is correct, that division is a sign of heresy, then they are condemned by their own judgment. (One writer advises us not to attribute all of the evils of Calvinism today to John Calvin. Much of the present teaching of Calvinism has been added since Calvin’s death, if we may believe the writer.)

THE BAPTIST CHURCH. The next giant stride toward the Millennium was in about 1600. The Five Baptist Principles, though not as perfect as the Bible, are honorable and conducive to a righteous life. These were:

(1) Baptists stressed the centrality of the Bible in matters of teaching and government. (2) Baptism was determined to be for believers only. (This meant no infants!)

(3) Congregations were organized independent of each other.

(4) The “priesthood of all believers” was professed, although they had ordained ministers. Declaring ministers not to be an order of priests was a satisfactory reconciliation at that time.

(5) Baptists believed in freedom from government (England), and the authority of the Bible only over the church.

[The National Baptist Convention, in our present day, has nullified almost everyone of these principles.]

JOHN WESLEY. John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield and Peter Bohler, a Moravian, and many others beside, brought in the “Holiness Movement.” John Wesley thought a “method” was the answer to the church’s problems. The name “Methodist” is derived from this fact. After many years of Bible study and preaching, John discovered that he did not have the “inner witness.” Disastrous results in an attempted revival in Georgia, of the United States, is believed by some to have brought him to humility. (Others disagree.) John discovered that he could not repeat the Anglican prayers with any faith. The church liturgy was no longer meaningful. His Moravian friend taught him to seek the “inner witness.” He thought that he had discovered the “presence of the Spirit” by a “warm feeling.” (This is based on Luke 24.32.) After their “conversion,” John and Charles Wesley felt nearer to God. Charles wrote many beautiful church hymns. Later this search for a “warm feeling” would lead to much confusion for others in the dark. But progress was being made by recognizing the fact that they

were “empty.”

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL. Alexander Campbell, and his father, Thomas, had this experience in the United States, beginning in 1809. They were both Presbyterians, and had undergone Infant Sprinkling. Alexander read his father’s “Declaration and Address,” in 1809, containing these words:

“Nothing ought to be received into the ‘faith’ ... that is not as old as the New Testament ... Nor ought any thing to be admitted as of Divine obligation ... but what is expressly enjoined by the ... Lord Jesus and His apostles ... EITHER IN EXPRESS TERMS OR BY APPROVED PRECEDENT.”1

Campbell being schooled in the Presbyterian teaching was impressed with the words, “express terms.” He applied this to his own religion, and discussed it with others. A Dr. Riddle was questioned, who replied that there was nothing in the Bible to support Infant Sprinkling, and so, the statement was unsound [to Campbell]. (For it did not agree with the Presbyterian creed.) Campbell did not believe the Doctor, and read all the books that he could find by Presbyterians to support Infant Sprinkling. These were found to be useless, and he continued his search, limiting himself to the Greek New Testament. Alexander discussed this with his father, Thomas, who would not admit the need to obey the Bible. The father, Thomas, contended for teaching other men the Bible message that “immersion” is for forgiveness of sin, but that they should not “unchurch” themselves just to obey the Bible. After three years, he told his father that he was going to be “immersed.” Campbell describes the event in these words:

“To my satisfaction my father, mother, and eldest sister, my wife and three other persons besides myself were that same day immersed into the faith of that great proposition on which the Lord himself said He would ‘build His church’” - Ibid.

The next Sunday 20 others were “immersed,” and in a short time almost 100 persons were immersed. This was in 1812. A MAN HAD REPENTED! (The Baptist elders, Henry Spears and Matthias Luse had “immersed” them without being examined by the church. Campbell published his belief that this was the first record of a biblical baptism in the United States.)

By 1835, they estimated that 100,000 persons had followed their example. Campbell, and his father, each traveled hundreds of miles on horseback, and ferryboat, to see if a Christian magazine would be supported by the public. The Christian Baptist monthly magazine was published from 1823 to 1830, and this was followed by the Millennial Harbinger, from 1830 to 1870. Many Baptist supporters read the magazines, and supported mutual efforts to restore the “Ancient order of things,” as found in the New Testament. Free Speech was practiced in the editing policies, and other denominations contributed to the articles written.

PUBLIC DEBATES. Campbell began a series of public debates, beginning with John Walker, a Seceder Presbyterian, in 1820 at Mt. Pleasant, Ohio. The topic was “Infant Baptism: Pro and Con.” Feeling that Walker had been unqualified for the task, the Presbyterians promoted W. L. Maccalla in 1823, at Washington, Kentucky. He and Campbell debated whether Infant Baptism was scriptural, or not. Then, Mr. Robert Owen, an atheist, was debated in 1829, at Cincinnati, Ohio. The population was greatly affected by the unprecedented public debates. The churches could not hide their creeds any longer. The Reverend Mr. W. L. Maccalla, in 1843, was met at Lexington, Kentucky on the subjects of baptism, the Holy Spirit, and creeds. Maccalla was also a Presbyterian. Although the Presbyterians claimed the victory in the debate, Campbell was “immersing” their membership in between the hours of debate. This is the “Mark of the Beast” (Papacy) to teach Infant Baptism. While the great Prostitute was suffering