Reflections & Reactions to the views

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Last December 1999 I remember that everybody was alarm when the year 2000 is fast approaching. Some people were packed up their belongings then went to the cave and some went to the certain place where people say God will appeared, some were in the church to be ready to “meet with their Lord”, and some were enjoying as if nothing will happened. It was a Millennium! The “coming of the Lord!” a “great tribulation…” they thought.  

For me, Millennium or one thousand years will be happened soon. I have seen the different views about Millennium mention by M. Erickson. Each view has their own claim but I hope as we wait upon the Lord our faith to Him will be strengthened. Also, I wish that this controversy will not cause to division on our churches because each views acknowledges the most critical issues to Christianity which is the coming and reigning of Jesus Christ forever. What or when the Millennium is, remember that Christ united all the believers.

I think the good thing that I have seen in Postmillennial view was the growth of the church and the power of the gospel will cause the world to get better and better (good citizen). I have seen our world nowadays as very evil, but on the other hand, God uses these circumstances to let the people realized that evil-doing are for Satan. So, they will now come to Him in repentance. When Christ seen that people are changed, then He will now return.  Accordingly, M. Erickson rejected on this view but for me I will consider also this view.

The Premillinnial interpretation is a closer view of the Millennium as the Bible is concern. They interpret 1000 years as literal time period. I don’t know where and when Millennium will be, but I am looking forward on that day because I want to see Jesus will rule over the earth as David did before. Besides, there will be “great abundance and fertility, of a renewing of the earth and building of a glorified Jerusalem.” Like the Jehovah’s Witnesses they will also looking forward on that day which will happen only on this earth.    

In Amillennial view, accordingly, this millennium is the reign of Christ in the heart of the believer and in his church. Probably, this view will happen in the future but the only thing which I cannot accept is that their interpretation of Revelation 20 is not clear because they interpret it as a whole book.

My understanding about great tribulation is the specific period of suffering at the end of the earthly history. Perhaps, and this is my view, that Christ will take the church prior to the tribulation because Christ here will impose his judgment to Satan which will end to being cast into the lake of fire to suffer eternally. If I will be here, I will ask favor from God that I will get out from the earth because this tribulation is not an ordinarily painful which we are experiencing right now, but this is a great tribulation which the book of Revelation described.  Besides, the conflicts which will occur on this day are the rulers, powers and principalities.

I Thessalonians 4:17 says “we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” My appeal is that the millennium and the great tribulation will come soon. But my hope is in my Lord Jesus. Maybe later He will come before the tribulation and meet us on the air. Praise God.