The Thousand Years

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The Creation Concept

Is the thousand years already past?

The thousand years is not literal

Could the thousand years precede the day of the Lord?

The great noise

The Church is judged now

A living sacrifice

The twelve tribes of Israel identifies the Church

Armies of Gog!

Is the thousand years already past?

The apostle Peter refers to "a thousand years" in his second epistle, in a discussion of the significance of prophecy. Peter's discussion of prophecy is introduced at the end of chapter 1. Chapter 2 warns about the false teachers. Then, Peter exhorts us to "be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour." (2 Peter 3:2) He then introduces the phrase "a thousand years."

2 Peter 3:8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

This statement precedes his comments on "the day of the Lord" in the following verses. It suggests that a day in prophecy can refer to a period as long as a thousand years. Conversely, Peter suggests the phrase "a thousand years" may refer to a "day."

2 Peter 3:8 dispells any suggestion that "the day of the Lord" refers to a literal day. In fact, the "day of the Lord" must span many centuries. The demise of the old geocentric cosmology in the eighteenth century fulfills Peter's prophecy that "the heavens shall pass away with great noise," in 2 Peter 3:10.

There must be a reason why Peter tells his readers that a thousand years is "as one day." Where is the phrase "a thousand years" mentioned in prophecy? It is mentioned 6 times in Revelation 20!  Thus, Peter's reference to "a thousand years" is related to the prophecy of Revelation 20.

In Psalm 90:4, "a thousand years" is likened to "yesterday when it is past," and "a watch in the night." This may be the basis for Peter suggesting that a thousand years can represent a day. Taken literally, "yesterday" refers to a single day, but in this verse the Psalmist compared it to a thousand years. This verse also suggests that the "thousand years" refers to a period that is already past, and a time of darkness, rather than light.

Jesus referred to his ministry on earth as "day," and the time of the Church that followed his ascent to heaven, as "night."

John 9:4
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Jesus advised his disciples in all ages of the Church to "watch," and to be ready for him.

Luke 12:35-40
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

So the ideas of an extended "night" and a "watch" are both symbols of the age of the church. In the scriptures, a "day" consists of an evening and a morning, in that order. Peter also referred to the dark "night" of the church age, to be followed by dawn, when he introduced the subject of prophecy in this second epistle.

2 Peter 1:19
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Peter's 2nd epistle is considered inauthentic by many scholars because the writings of the earliest church fathers that have come down to us do not mention it. But there may be a reason why some of those church fathers would have ignored this epistle; it explains some of the principles for understanding prophecy, and the second chapter foretold the coming of false teachers. Perhaps the church fathers who ignored Peter's second epistle were some of those false teachers Peter warned about!

The thousand years is not literal

Dispensationalists tend to miss the significance of the words of the apostle Peter, who warns us that "a thousand years" in prophecy has another meaning besides a literal "thousand years."

Peter's epistles give no support for the idea of a literal thousand-year earthly kingdom, where Jews are the master-race.

In the OT the word "thousand" is often used in a figurative way. Several scriptures speak of "a thousand generations," picturing a very long time, of indefinite duration.

Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Do God's love and mercy end after the thousand generations? Of course not! This is not meant literally.

1 Chronicles 16:15
Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;

Psalm 105:8
He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

In this case, "a thousand generations" must be synonymous with "for ever."

Similarly, the Psalmist speaks of "the cattle upon a thousand hills." The context shows that all cattle are meant.

Psalm 50:10-11
For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

In the same epistle in which he discussed the meaning of "a thousand years," Peter tells us of the need to interpret prophecy.

2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

The meaning of any symbol used in scripture has to be supported in scripture itself. We can't simply make up "private" interpretations. And obviously, there is no merit in taking prophecies literally, that were meant to be interpreted.

Dispensationalists, it seems, dismiss Peter's discussion of the symbolism of "a thousand years." There are only two chapters in the NT where "a thousand years" is even mentioned; one is the 2nd epistle of Peter, chapter 3, and the other is  Revelation 20. Dispensationalists believe in a literal earthly millennium, based upon a literal interpretation of the thousand years of Revelation 20. But if that is not the "thousand years" that Peter alluded to in his 2nd epistle, what was he referring to?

In 2 Peter, there is no evidence at all of an earthly kingdom, in which the Jews are exulted over the nations of the earth.

Eusebius (c. A.D. 260-340), in his Ecclesiastical History, wrote of a person named Papias (c. A.D. 70-155) who viewed the thousand years as a literal millennium:

Papias... says that there will be a millennium after the resurrection of the dead, when the kingdom of Christ will be set up in material form on this earth. I suppose that he got these notions by a perverse reading of the apostolic accounts, not realizing that they had spoken mystically and symbolically. For he was a man of very little intelligence, as is clear from his books. But he is responsible for the fact that so many Christian writers after him held the same opinion, relying on his antiquity, for instance Irenaeus and whoever else appears to have held the same views.

The apostle Peter does not tell his readers to look forward to such an earthly millennium, but to a new heavens and a new earth.

2 Peter 3:10-13
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Peter makes no mention of an earthly millennial kingdom. For Peter, the reign of Christ as king had already begun, when he was raised up to the throne of God. (Acts 2:30-36)

Could the thousand years precede the day of the Lord?

The thousand years in Rev. 20 has to be interpreted, like all prophecy. Peter's comment in 2 Peter 3:8 destroys literalism; the meaning of the phrase "a thousand years" can be determined from a study of other scriptures, such as Psalm 90:4, "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."

Here we notice (1) it refers to a period already past; and (2) it is as a "watch in the night," a time of darkness, which is how Peter characterizes the age of the Church, (2 Peter 1:19). Many other scriptures describe the day of the Lord as a time of darkness and gloom. (Isaiah 13:10, Joel 2:2, Amos 5:18, Zechariah 14:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:2)

In the same context as the thousand years, Peter discusses the day of the Lord. The "thousand years" is mentioned before the "day of the Lord." Why do Dispensationalists say the day of the Lord comes before the "thousand years," when Peter lists them in the reverse order? Their theory is contrary to what Peter wrote.

In his 2nd epistle, the apostle Peter admonishes Christians to take heed to prophecy, (2 Peter 1:19) which he says is like "a light that shineth in a dark place." Chapter 2 warns about false teachers. 2 Peter 3:1-2 again reminds us to "be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles."

Peter says many scoffers will come in the last days. (2 Peter 3:3) He says men were "willingly ignorant" about the creation of the heavens and the earth; and that "the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water," and about the destruction of the ancient world by a flood: "Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." (2 Peter 3:5-6)

Peter emphasizes the coming judgment, verse 8. Then he says, "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night..."  (2 Peter 3:8-10)

Given the context, there is little doubt that Peter wants his readers to consider the phrase "a thousand years" as symbolic, and a figure, not necessarily a literal period of a thousand years. Since it is mentioned before the "day of the Lord," it is reasonable for us to conclude that it precedes the time called "the day of the Lord."

Now, Peter tells us the day of the Lord will arrive "like a thief." When a thief enters a house, he usually does it quietly, when the owners are away, or asleep, and he leaves again with his loot, undetected. Only in the morning, is the theft discovered. That is how it is with the day of the Lord. Paul also said that the day of the Lord comes "as a thief in the night."

1 Thessalonians 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

The great noise

Peter said that in the day of the Lord, "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." (2 Peter 3:10)

There is no air in space, so there is no sound up there either. So, what is the "noise"? The "great noise" is the commotion that arose as a result of the scientific revolution.

After the scientific revolution, the Bible was discredited because of corruptions that had been introduced in the 2nd century BC that adapted its cosmology to that of the hellenistic Greeks. This may be what Peter refers to in verse 5 when he says men are "willingly ignorant."

The scientific revolution occurred in the "day of the Lord," and because some of the scholars of the Roman Catholic Church supported the old geocentric cosmology, and criticized Galileo for advocating the Copernican view, the Church was later discredited, and ridiculed by the scholars of the enlightenment. The "great noise" of skepticism and atheism has continued unabated ever since, and so fulfills Peter's prophecy.

The "great noise" includes the controversy over the truth of the scriptures, that the "enlightenment" philosophers supposed were discredited, because they supposed that the scriptures supported the idea of a rigid heaven revolving around the earth, carrying the stars! They failed to understand that the cosmology of the scriptures had been corrupted in the 2nd century BC, in the reign of Antiochus IV, who initiated the revision of the OT to make it support the hellenistic Greek cosmology with its rigid heaven. That is when the 'raqia' or 'firmament' of Genesis 1 was identified with "Heaven." There were many other changes, in Genesis 1 and other parts of scripture, so that the word "firmament" occurs 9 times in the first chapter of Genesis, in the KJV. It is overloaded with the word "firmament." So much so, it could be called the "firmament" chapter!

The corruption of the cosmology of the scriptures in the 2nd century BC was aided and supported by hellenized Jews who admired the geocentric cosmology of the Greeks. They modified the creation account in Genesis 1, by adding the statement "and God called the firmament Heaven," so identifying the firmament with heaven. Before, the 'raqia' referred to the rocky crust of the earth that was "standing out of the water and in the water," as Peter described it.

The scholars failed to recognize these corruptions. Many of them rejected their faith in God, and abandoned Christianity. They became "scoffers," and so fulfilled Peter's prophecy in 2 Peter 3:3.

Peter's prophecy about the heavens passing away pictures the demise of the old geocentric cosmology. The planetary spheres, and the rigid heavenly firmament that were supposed to revolve around the earth every day, carrying the stars, became obsolete. The entire geocentric cosmology was abandoned, and the diurnal rotation was assigned to the earth instead of the heavens. The scientific revolution fulfills Peter's prophecy.

The Church is judged now

Revelation 20:3 says the nations would be deceived no more, till the thousand years were fulfilled, suggesting that for a time, deception of the nations was restrained. Peter said "a thousand years" can represent a "day," and a "day" can represent "a thousand years." (2 Peter 3:8)

In the Psalms, David compared "a thousand years" to "yesterday," and "a watch in the night." This is likely quite relevant to the interpretation  we should apply to Revelation 20. Notice that the Psalm refers to a period that was already past, not a future period of time.

Psalm 90:4
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

Jesus compared the church age, when his followers were looking for his coming, to a "watch in the night," implied when he warned his disciples to "watch."

Matthew 24:42
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Perhaps John referred to the ministry of Jesus and the apostolic age that followed, when he spoke of "a thousand years" during which Satan was bound. There has certainly been much deception of the nations, since the time of the apostles.

The "judgment" in Revelation 20:4 may refer to the judgment of the Church, mentioned by Peter.

1 Peter 4:17
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The "thrones" in Revelation 20:4 may be the thrones that Jesus said would be occupied by the apostles.

Matthew 19:28
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

In the New Testament, the "judgments" of the apostles are recorded. They identified the Church with "the twelve tribes of Israel," for example in Rev. 7:1-8, and James 1:1.

When Peter discussed the false teachers in the Church in 2 Peter 2, he emphasized that they were in a judgment, when he said "whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not."

2 Peter 2:3
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

In Rev. 12:1 the woman in heaven, who represents the Church, wears a crown of 12 stars, which very likely represent the 12 apostles.

Jesus identified the Church with Israel of God, when he chose 12 disciples. No one could ignore the correspondence of the number 12 with the number of the tribes of Israel.

Paul said that believers sit together "in heavenly places." The thrones of Revelation 20:4 need not be literal, visible ones.

Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Paul said believers have been "translated" into Christ's kingdom:

Colossians 1:12-14
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Jesus said his 12 disciples would judge the "twelve tribes of Israel."

Matthew 19:28
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Revelation 20:4 mentions "thrones" and "judgment" which seems to show a connection with Christ's words in Matthew 19:28.

Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

In Revelation 20, the ones who "live and reign with Christ" are those who are beheaded for the witness of Jesus. It is not people who are dressed in fine clothes, who sit on literal thrones. They "live" and "reign with Christ" because they are faithful, and overcome evil.

Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) said, "The tyrant dies and his rule ends, the martyr dies and his rule begins."

Merle D'Aubigné's "Martyrs of the reformation" says,

The times of the Reformation abound in martyrs; and we might well ask whether primitive Christianity, which came to an end when the reign of Constantine began, had so great a number of them as the renovated Christianity of the sixteenth century; especially if we take into account the different lengths of the periods. The impulse which led the martyrs of the Netherlands, of France, England, Hungary, Italy, Spain and other lands, to give up their lives calmly, and even joyfully, proceeded from the depth of their convictions, the holy and sovereign voice of conscience, enlightened, purified and strengthened by the word of God. In the souls of these lowly heroes there was a secret and mighty testimony to the truth of the gospel, which vividly manifested to them its grandeur, impelled them to sacrifice all for its sake, and gave them courage to obey, although it cost them not only goods and worldly greatness, but also the good opinion, the affection, and esteem even, of those whom they most tenderly loved. Obedience, indeed, was not always instantaneous. Sometimes there were hindrances, conflicts, hesitation and delay. There were also some weak consciences which were overcome. But wherever the conscience was sound, it acquired in the midst of difficulties more and more force, and when once its voice was heard the victory was won. It must be understood that we do not mean here a conscience which a man has made for himself: that of which we speak was the highest expression of truth, justice and the divine will, and it was found to be the same in all regions. The souls of these martyrs were exempt from all prejudices, pure as a cloudless sky. They were conscientious men ; and here-in we have the complete explanation of the grand phenomenon presented to us in the Reformation. Here was a force sufficient to break through stubborn bonds, to surmount passionate opposition, to brave torture and to go to the stake. No concessions were to be made, no agreement with error. The noble martyrs of the first centuries and of the sixteenth were the select spirits and the glory of the human race.

Daniel distinguished between the "wise" who "turn many to righteousness" on the one hand and the wicked on the other in Daniel 12:2. He said "none of the wicked shall understand." (Daniel 12:10)

A living sacrifice

Why does John only include those who are beheaded in the first resurrection, in his prophecy in Revelation 20:4?

Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Most Christians do not get beheaded, do they? So, will the ones who died of old age, or some other natural cause, get to reign with Christ too? And what about all the martyrs who died by being burned at the stake, but were not beheaded?

The ones who reign with Christ don't worship the beast, and don't worship his image, and do not receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hands, and they get "beheaded" for the witness of Jesus and for his word. Could the "beheading" that John wrote of here be symbolic? Why should it be a literal beheading? All the other things he mentions, about the mark of the beast, and the image of the beast, are obviously mysterious, and symbolic. So, the beheading is likely symbolic too. What could a "beheading" represent?

In Leviticus 1, sacrifices of cattle, and animals of the herd or the flock, or even of pigeons, were beheaded. The head was separated from the body and burned in the fire. Paul wrote that believers should offer themselves as a "living sacrifice."

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

So perhaps John was alluding to this. A "sacrifice" involves a "beheading." Paul also wrote that Christians should "mortify" their earthly members.

Colossians 3:4-6
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

He said we need have our minds "renewed."

Ephesians 4:23-25
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

So, could John have referred to our minds being "renewed," when he said those in the first resurrection are "beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God."?

This first resurrection also alludes to Paul's teachings about the meaning of baptism.

Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

This is what the first resurrection is about!

And the thousand years? Peter explained it.

2 Peter 3:8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

And David also:

Psalm 90:4
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

Our Christian life is "reigning with Christ," and is like a "watch in the night."

The promise to those who are in the first resurrection is they will not have to suffer the "second death."

The twelve tribes of Israel identifies the Church

According to Psalm 147, God's word was given only to Israel.

Psalm 147:19-20
He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

The scriptures of the NT were not given to those who were Jews after the flesh, but to the Church. Many of the epistles of Paul, for example, were addressed to churches in Gentile lands, consisting of both Jewish and Gentile converts, who had become one in Christ. OTOH, the Jews after the flesh never accepted the NT as holy scripture. This shows the Church is the true Israel.

Jesus said, in John 4:22, "salvation is of the Jews," showing that those who are in his kingdom are "Jews" spiritually.

The Church is called his bride, and so becomes "one" with Christ, who was a Jew.  Paul says in Ephesians 5:30 "we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." If we are of his bones and flesh, how can the Church not be Israel?

The Church is called "the mother of us all," (Galatians 4:26). How could believers not be Israel, if we are her children?

Jesus said his ministry was to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 15:24) Paul showed that the Gentile believers have been "made nigh" to the commonwealth of Israel by the blood of Christ. Thus they inherit all the promises given to Israel, through Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-13)

Denying the Church is the Israel of God deprives Christians of the promises they are entitled to. Those who teach this have the spiritual status of uncircumcised Gentiles. Or else, what does circumcision mean? It distinguishes between Jew and Gentile. Paul called the Church "the circumcision."

Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

"The twelve tribes of Israel" is a name that Jesus and the apostles applied to the Church in the NT. There were no longer twelve tribes in a literal sense, as the northern tribes of Israel were taken captive by the Assyrians centuries before, and had become lost to history.

James addressed his epistle to "the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad", but his epistle was meant for the whole Church. (James 1:1)

John identifies the Church with the 12 tribes of the children of Israel in Revelation 7.

Revelation 7:3-4
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Jesus said, "when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matthew 19:28)

Peter said Jesus was "raised up" to sit on a throne; he sat down "at God's right hand." See Acts 2:29-36. When was Jesus raised up? Peter said it was when he ascended to the throne of God; Jesus has been raised up to honor, "being by the right hand of God exalted." (Acts 2:33) So at that time, the apostles became the chief ministers of the Church, and sat on their 12 thrones, judging "the 12 tribes of the children of Israel," which refers to the Church of God. They still rule today, through their writings in the NT.

One of the problems with Dispensationalist claims about a future literal restoration of the twelve tribes of Israel, is that the Jewish people do not consist of 12 separate tribes, as ancient Israel did, but over the centuries the Jews have become mixed by intermarriage with Gentile races such as the Khazars, who were apparently of Tartar-Mongol descent, and who converted to Judaism in the eighth or ninth century AD.

"It is likely that the Khazar nation was made up of tribes from various ethnic backgrounds, as steppe nations traditionally absorbed those they conquered."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khazars

The Khazars are known to have intermarried with the Semitic Jews.

REMARKABLY, the Khazars, a people of Turkic origin, converted to the Jewish religion sometime in the 9th century, beginning with the royal house and spreading gradually among the general populace. Judaism is now known to have been more widespread among the Khazar inhabitants of the Khazar kingdom than was previously thought. In 1999, Russian archaeologists announced that they had successfully reconstructed a Khazarian vessel from the Don River region, revealing 4 inscriptions of the word "Israel" in Hebrew lettering. It is now the accepted opinion among most scholars in the field that the conversion of the Khazars to Judaism was widespread, and not limited merely to the royal house and nobility. Ibn al-Faqih, in fact, wrote "All of the Khazars are Jews." Christian of Stavelot wrote in 864 that "all of them profess the Jewish faith in its entirety.
http://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Maps/Story800.html

Are the Dispensationalist scholars completely ignorant of the reports of extensive racial mixing that occurred between the Khazars and Semitic Jews? In view of that, how can there literally be 12 separate Jewish tribes in the future? How do they become "unmixed"? It seems like a very tall story indeed!

John 9:39-41
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Armies of Gog!

Promoters of Dispensationalism, deny they are part of the "Israel of God." All false teachers are enemies and invaders in Israel's land, who are foretold in the prophecies of Joel, Ezekiel 38, and Zechariah 14. The armies of Gog, described in Ezekiel 38, include horses, which represent those who lack understanding.

Psalm 32:9
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

Horses have riders, and the invaders have humans, such as J. N. Darby and C. I. Schofield, or their theory of Dispensationalism, as their riders. They look for a carnal, temporal fulfillment of Bible prophecy, alien to the gospel of Christ, which they impose on the scriptures. They seek to make captives of the believers, and snare them in their false doctrines, which is a major factor in the formation of thousands of cults, and sects, and denominations, where Christians are scattered.

Jeremiah 5:8
They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.

The armies of Gog seek to "take a spoil," Ezekiel says (Ezekiel 38:12). Dispensationalists deprive the people of God of their promises, which they want to apply to the unbelieving Jews! They fulfill the prophecy of Peter, who said false teachers would come, and "through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you." (2 Peter 2:3)

Ezekiel also says they come against the "prophets of Israel." (Ezekiel 38:17) They misinterpret the prophets, and obscure and garble the message of the prophets intended for the Church!

Copyright © 2010 by Douglas E. Cox
All Rights Reserved.