About Revelation 20:4-6
Pre-Millennial Return Theory is the idea that the Messiah Yeshua ('J-sus') will return
back to earth in physical form, and rule and reign over the earth physically for its final
thousand years. This final thousand years is popularly called 'the Millennium', and it
began around the year 2000.
There are variations, but most versions of Pre-Millennial Return Theory have the
Messiah coming in the clouds, smiting the enemies of Israel, and then going on to build
the next Temple, in which they say He will serve both as Israel's King, and as its High
Priest, physically, for a thousand years.
Pre-Millennial Return Theory is based on Revelation 20:4-6, which it uses as its so called 'proof text.'
Hitgalut (Revelation) 20:4-6
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.
Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Yeshua
and for the word of Elohim, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and
had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived
and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were
finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and set apart is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the
second death has no power, but they shall be priests of Elohim and of Messiah,
and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
What Revelation 20:4-6 tells us is that the believers will rule and reign 'with' the Messiah
for a thousand years. But the question is, does He have to be 'with' us physically, or
can He be ‘with’ us in Spirit, even as He is with us now?
Pre-Millennial Return Theory tell us that in order for this verse to be fulfilled as it is
written the Messiah will have to be 'with' us in physical form; meaning He will have to be
physically 'with' us, because they see this as a new condition. Yet we know from the
study, “Yeshua, Manifestation of YHWH’, that Yeshua is YHWH, and there are many
verses in Scripture which tell us that the Creator, YHWH, was 'with' certain of His
people long before the Messiah’s earthly ministry. For example,
Genesis Chapter 39 and verse 2 tells us that YHWH was 'with' the Patriarch Joseph.
Genesis 39:2
2 YHWH was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house
of his master the Egyptian.
First Samuel Chapter 3 and verse 19 tells us that as Samuel grew, YHWH was 'with'
him.
Shemuel Aleph (1st Samuel) 3:19
19 So Samuel grew, and YHWH was with him and let none of his words fall to the
ground.
There are many other passages which tell us that YHWH (or rather Yeshua) was 'with'
certain of His people in Old Testament times, long before the outpouring of the Spirit in
Acts Chapter Two.
And being ‘with’ us is so much a part of Yeshua that it is even part of His name. Isaiah
Chapter 7 and verse 14 tells us that Yeshua would be called 'Immanuel', meaning
Elohim (or G-d) 'with' us. So Yeshua is always with His chosen in spirit.
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 7:14
14 Therefore YHWH Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive
and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Further, in the Great Commission, in Matthew Chapter 28 and verse 20, Yeshua tells us
that He will be 'with' us always, even unto the end of the world.
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 28:20
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the world (olam)." Amein.
And in fact, Yeshua is with us in spirit even now.
Is Yeshua with you? And if he is already with us, even now, then let us acknowledge
that.
Even though Yeshua is already 'with' us, Pre-Millennial Return Theory tells us that in
order for the believers to rule and reign 'with' Him for a thousand years, the Messiah
must be physically present. But why? If Yeshua is already 'with' us, even until the end
of the world, then why would He have to be physically present, to be 'with' us? Why can
He not be 'with' us in the Millennium just as He is 'with' us right now?
There are a number of other problems with Pre-Millennial Return Theory. For example,
Ezekiel Chapter 45 and Verse 22 tells us that the Prince of the next Temple will prepare
for himself (and for all the people of the Land) a bull for a sin offering.
Yehezqel (Ezekiel) 45:22
22 And on that day the prince shall prepare for himself and for all the people of
the land a bull for a sin offering.
Pre-Millennial Return Theory tells us that this Prince can only be Yeshua; but if Yeshua
our Messiah was the sinless, spotless Passover Lamb, then why would He have to offer
up a sin sacrifice, for Himself? Is Pre-Millennial Return Theory telling us that the
Messiah is going to sin? Can that really be the Messiah?
And how does Pre-Millennial Return Theory explain Ezekiel Chapter 46 and Verse 16,
which tells us that if this Prince decides to give a gift to any of his sons, it shall belong to
his sons; and that it shall be their possession by inheritance?
Yehezqel (Ezekiel) 46:16
16 'Thus says YHWH Elohim: "If the prince gives a gift of some of his inheritance
to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons; it is their possession by
inheritance.”’
If this is Yeshua, then that means He would have to take an earthly wife, and beget
earthly sons. Yet the mixture of deity with human women was the role given to the
Nephilim, the Fallen Angels of Genesis Chapter Six. Is this what Pre-Millennial Return
Theory tells us our Messiah is like, a deity marrying human women, and having human
children? Elohim forbid!
And then in Revelation 3 and verse 3, Yeshua tells us that when He returns to earth, He
will come upon us as a thief in the night.
Hitgalut (Revelation) 3:3-4
3 “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.
Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not
know what hour I will come upon you.”
Using the much the same language, in Second Peter Chapter 3 and verse 10 we are
told that Yeshua will come upon us as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass
away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; and that both the
earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Kepha Bet (2nd Peter) 3:10
10 But the day of YHWH will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will
pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both
the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
But if both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up when Yeshua returns,
then how can Yeshua return to earth a thousand years before its destruction? It doesn’t
make sense.
Scripture tells us that the earth will be destroyed when He returns; so what would there
be to rule and reign over? Is this the Messiah's kingdom for a thousand years? Space
dust? Ashes? What sense does that make?
These are just a few of the many logical errors inherent in Pre-Millennial Return Theory.
To find out why the Messiah does not return to earth in physical form until the end of the
Millennium, almost a thousand years from now, please see 'The Post-Millennial Return'
study, downloadable for free from the Nazarene Israel website, or you can order a hard
copy from Amazon.com at something like 60 percent off of a normal retail price. You
only pay what it costs us, because it is never right to make merchandise out of YHWH's
word.
Please share this study with everyone you care about. And may YHWH our Elohim be
'with' you.
Shalom.