truth on end times

A purely Scripture-based definition of antichrist^2,3,4,5 requires no human speculation or pontification. It would not be a proper name (capital “A”), but rather a concept or classification – literally, “every spirit that does not confess Jesus”^4,5 or anyone that “denies the Father”³. John clearly defines this and tells us that antichrist is “in the world already”⁴ and were “many”². We also have Jude’s testimony⁷ about false teachers, written during the same time period and mirroring John’s definition of the antichrist.

Now having a firm standing from what Scripture has made clear, we can review other, less-clear passages that may apply. These would include what John sees in his vision¹ and what Paul writes to the Thessalonians⁶ (and possibly Jesus’ statements provoked by the Temple visit⁷). To be clear, these do not speak of “the Antichrist” and shortcomings for anyone to definitively interpret in that way have been noted.

However, what is unequivocally clear in these passages is that while opposition to God exists and will exist, He remains sovereign and in due course will be triumphant over evil…as will all those that remain faithful to the end^1,6,7.

Scripture has a lot to say about Jesus’ second coming, but it never says that Jesus will return to earth. In fact, it says that believers, both dead and alive at that time, will meet Him in the air/clouds¹ (specifically not on earth).

We have other passages where Jesus talks of His own return^2,3,4,6,7. In these, He never says He will return to earth. He does speak of His throne^2,3,4 which some may infer “throne on earth.” One especially² may tempt a literal, physical, earthly throne meaning. However, unless Jesus is contradicting Himself in the immediate context² and other places⁴, we can understand that He’s speaking metaphorically and simply means that all believers will conquer and become glorious upon His return⁴.

Finally, there is one passage of prophecy that is plucked from its context to sometimes justify Jesus’ return to earth⁵. Surely His feet standing “on the Mount of Olives” proves His return to earth, right? Except, we see from the context⁵ – something too often ignored in Bible study but especially end times doctrine – this is a metaphor for judgement and the “dividing” that will happen between the righteous and the unrighteous^1,3,4.

While Revelation 20 makes a statement about a one thousand year reign, it should not be taken literally. To begin with, there is no Scriptural precedent to take it literally – in fact quite to the contrary. There is no other place in Scripture where “a thousand years” (or anything like it) is used literally^{2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12}. We see “thousand” used figuratively in books of history^2,7, poetry^3,4,8,10,13, New Testament epistle¹², other books of prophecy^6,9 and other places in Revelation itself⁵.

We are reading it within the broader prophetic and highly figurative vision of John. Furthermore, to take “one thousand years” literally in Revelation 20 would be out of context for rest of Scripture, being quite literally (no pun intended), the only instance.

By the time we get to the passage of Scripture that promoters of this “literal thousand year reign” doctrine stake their claim on¹, Scripture has well established a figurative use for “a thousand years”^{2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13} (and not at all unlike many secular examples). Indeed, without the clouding lens of a presupposed doctrine that requires a certain interpretation, the Revelation 20 text is simply communicating to the reader a very long (everlasting^{2,3,4,7,11,12}) and triumphal (complete^{2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13}) reign of Christ and the Saints.