SESSION 8

Our Hope as Christians

​

Our ultimate hope is not eternal disembodiment as spirits in heaven, but that Jesus Christ will return to renew the earth, uniting heaven, God’s dwelling place, with ours.

John writes:

​

“I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’... God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21:1-3)

​

The Basics of Jesus’ Return

​

Before discussing Revelation 20, let’s establish some foundational truths about Jesus’ return.

​

1. Jesus Will Return

 

Paul writes:

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, 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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

​

Key points:

• Jesus is coming back the same way he left—descending from heaven.

• His return will be visible and unmistakable.

• The dead in Christ will receive resurrection bodies first, followed by those still alive.
   

2. When Will This Happen?

​

Scripture is clear that no one knows the exact timing:

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32) “The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2)

The Bible’s message is not "We don’t know, so relax," but rather "We don’t know, so be ready."

​

Summary of Revelation 20

• Satan is bound for a thousand years.

• The saints reign with Christ.

• After this period, Satan is released for a final rebellion before being defeated and cast into the lake of fire.

• This is followed by the final judgment of all people before God's throne.
   

Three Main Views on the Millennium
 

1. Premillennialism
 

• Christ returns before (pre-) the millennium—a literal 1,000-year reign on earth.

• Two types:

  • Historic Premillennialism – The church endures tribulation before Christ’s return.

  • Dispensational Premillennialism – A 19th-century framework teaching a secret rapture, followed by a seven-year tribulation, then Christ’s visible return and millennial reign.

• Strengths:

  • Takes Revelation 20 at face value.

  • Emphasises the physical return and visible reign of Jesus.

• Weaknesses:

  • If Christ reigns visibly, why is there ongoing rebellion?

  • Requires two separate resurrections, which seems inconsistent with Scripture.

  • The idea of a secret rapture is not explicitly stated in Scripture.
     

2. Postmillennialism
 

• Christ returns after (post-) the millennium, a golden age of Christian influence and victory on earth.

• Strengths:

  • Strong optimism about the power of the gospel.

  • Aligns with biblical passages on the kingdom growing (Matthew 13:31-33).

• Weaknesses:

  • Underestimates ongoing evil.

  • Struggles to explain the sudden return of Christ.

  • History does not show a sustained golden age of righteousness.
     

3. Amillennialism

• The millennium is symbolic, representing the church age between Christ’s first and second coming.

• Strengths:

  • Aligns with the "already-but-not-yet" nature of the kingdom.

  • Avoids speculative timelines and complex prophetic charts.

  • Treats Revelation 20 consistently with the rest of Scripture.

• Weaknesses (with responses):

  • Requires a symbolic interpretation, but Revelation is a highly symbolic book.

  • Some argue it downplays Christ’s future reign, but it affirms his current reign (Acts 2:32-36).