What is a ‘Pre-Millennial’ Return?
Most scholars regard the Book of Genesis as being prophetic, in that events recorded in Genesis establish patterns that show up again later in Scripture. The Book of Genesis, then, tells us that when Elohim (G-d) was creating the earth, He worked for six days, and then rested on the seventh day. Elohim ‘sanctified’ the seventh day, or ‘set it apart’ from all of the others (as being special).
B’reisheet (Genesis) 2:1-3
1 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.
2 And on the seventh day Elohim ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
3 Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and sanctified, because in it He rested from all His work which Elohim had created and made.
The Apostle Kepha (Peter) then tells us not to forget that in prophecy, one day can sometimes represent a thousand earth years.
Kepha Bet (2nd Peter) 3:8-9
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing: That with YHWH one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day.
Many scholars tell us that if a day in prophecy can sometimes represent a thousand earth years, and if the Creation Week was seven days long, then this means that the earth is supposed to exist for seven thousand years (after which it will be destroyed). Some of these scholars further tell us that since YHWH worked for six of these days and then rested on the seventh, this means that mankind will labor for six thousand years, and then the seventh thousand years will be special, in that it will somehow be more restful.
Scholars often call this final thousand years of earth’s history the ‘Sabbath Millennium.’ They also sometimes call it the ‘Millennial Reign of the Messiah,’ in that they assume the Messiah will return back to earth in physical form at the start of this final thousand years. This theory is sometimes called Pre-Millennial Return Theory, and it is based in large part on a particular reading of Revelation 20:4-6, which tells us that the saints will rule and reign ‘with’ the Messiah for a thousand years.
Gilyana (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 (G-d), 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.
Because verses 4 and 6 tell us that the believers will reign ‘with’ the Messiah for a thousand years, Pre-Millennial Return Theory tells us that the Messiah must return back to earth in physical form a thousand years before the earth ends. Otherwise, they ask, how could the believers rule ‘with’ Him for a thousand years?
It might seem like Revelation 20:4-6 is conclusive, but as we study the matter out, we find there are actually many reasons why the Messiah cannot return to earth in physical form a thousand years before the earth’s end. One relatively simple reason is how the Apostle Kepha (Peter) tells us that when the Messiah returns, the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the earth (and everything in it) will be burned up. [Kepha here refers to Yeshua’s return as the Day of YHWH (the ‘Day of the L-rd’).]
Kepha Bet (2nd Peter) 3:10-13
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.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in set-apart conduct and set-apartness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of Elohim, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
This passage indicates that when Yeshua returns, the heavens will pass away with a great noise, the elements will melt with a fervent heat, and both the earth and everything in it will be burned up. In that day, the heavens will also be dissolved (being on fire).
However, how can Yeshua rule ‘with’ the saints for a thousand years, if the earth (and everything in it) is to be destroyed upon His arrival?