75 Days

Outline

Big Idea:

Introduction

As we move into Revelation 20, into a post Armageddon war, into the 1000 year—millennial reign of Jesus, it is important for us to take quick moment and step back into understanding the various perspectives when it comes to Christ’s second coming and how that affects the millennium.

Understanding the three primary perspectives will be a helpful context and backdrop upon which to build.

As you know, I personally, as well as our church here at Hephzibah ,take a pre-tribulation rapture and a literal 1000 year millennial reign on earth position.

But that view is not the only one that exists. There are schools of thought that deny, alter, or spiritualize parts or all of the texts to interpret it differently.

There are three major schools of thought. I will start with the one we hold as a quick review.

Premillennialism

Christ returns before the Millennium.

The Church is raptured before the Tribulation (pre-tribulation view).

A future seven-year Tribulation precedes Christ’s return.

Christ returns bodily to establish His earthly kingdom and reigns for 1,000 years from Jerusalem

Satan is bound during this reign.

Israel and the Church remain distinct in God’s redemptive program.

God’s covenant promises to national Israel are fulfilled during the Millennium.

After the Millennium comes Satan’s final rebellion, the final judgment, and the eternal state.

Postmillennialism

The gospel progressively transforms the world.

This results in a long period of righteousness and peace (the Millennium).

Christ returns after this golden age.

His return is followed by the final judgment and the eternal state.

Amillennialism

The Millennium is not a future earthly kingdom.

The 1,000 years symbolizes the present Church Age.

Christ reigns now from heaven over His Church.

Satan is restrained in a limited sense during this age.

Christ returns once at the end of history.

His return is immediately followed by the resurrection, final judgment, and the eternal state.

As with any of these three views, you will have a spectrum within each view that creates slight variations. But this is the general gist of each view.

Some scholars point out that the early church was largely premil.

Papias—a disciple of John

Iraenus

Justin Martyr

Tertullian

The position was later challenged by members of the Alexandrian school of thought who argued for an allegorical approach to interpreting scripture.

The Premil position rises from a literal, historical hermeneutical. Even post and amil proponents recognize this.

The problems that arise when you take post or amil position is that it requires allegorizing certain portions of prophecies or certain prophecies entirely. When you choose/decide to interpret some portions allegorical but others literally, what becomes the defining factor for which is which? When we are not consistent in our interpretative methods, it undermines all of it.

If the prophecies were non literal and were intended for an application to the church, then what did those prophecies mean for Israel? Why would they have been given to Israel in the first place then?

Eric Sauer gives five compelling reasons for taking a literal millennium vs figurative one

Confirmation of scriptures truthfulness and reliability - Fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6-7

Earthly millennial kingdom only explanation for the end times that keeps with Jesus teaching to His disciples - Mt 19:28

Only consistent interpretation that keeps with Messianic prophecy. Jesus literally fulfilled many OT prophecies - Micah 5:2; Zech 9:9; 11:12; 12:10; Ps 22:16; 16:10; Is 53:8-11. There would be no reason not to make this one literal as well.

Visible earthly kingdom is best way to demonstrate He is the supreme ruler over His creation - Rm 8:21-22. His release of creation from curse to perfect will display who He is.

Only and necessary bridge from human history to eternal glory - 1 Cor 15:24-25. What other kingdom would He deliver up besides an earthly one?

As we approach this text, we approach it from the pre-trib rapture of the church, and the pre-mil return of Jesus Christ.

We now find ourselves standing at the end of the tribulation—Jesus and his army from heaven have returned, of which, we the church are part.

The millennium has not officially begun, but we are on the cusp of it.

As we move into Revelation 20, this is where stand.

However, before we can launch in to Revelation 20, we have two texts that we must look at—because they point us to a significant event that takes place prior to the official start of the millennium.

The 75 Day Gap—Daniel 12

Daniel 12 ESV

1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” 5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. 8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

Daniel’s prophecies which have impacted so heavily our understanding of these events, once more gives us details that help us understand.

There truly is no worst period in human history than the tribulation—the Day of the Lord—the Day of His wrath.

But, those judgments are finally over.

Armageddon’s blood bath has ended.

We are about to move into the millennial reign of Christ—to the most BLESSED period of human history. (Besides the time in the garden before sin)

Daniel’s final words in the recorded prophecy are important, for he notes the sequence of days that directly effect what we see taking place.

This sequence, these numbers of days which we will see come in response to His question—“what will be the outcome of these events?”

God’s answer is this…

“…from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1290 days.”

From the mid point to of the tribulation when the abomination of desolation take place—when the antichrist desolates the temple and sets himself up as the only object of worship, until it is done and stripped down—is 1290 days.

However—the last half the tribulation, the 3.5 years that remain from that point is only 1260.

THUS, we have an extra 30 days.

But that’s not all.

He goes on and says

“Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1355 days”

Another 45 days beyond that

For a grand total of….

75 days

From the conclusion of the tribulation—from the end of the final war at Armageddon.

What this tells us is that there appears to be a 75 day gap between the end of the tribulation, after Babylon falls, until the beginning of the 1000 year millennial reign of Jesus.

In this gap of time, a number of things appear to happen.

Satan is bound for 1000 years in the bottomless pit - Revelation 20:2-3

Revelation 20:2–3 ESV

2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

OT saints will be resurrected - Is 26:19; Daniel 12:2

Isaiah 26:19 ESV

19 Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.

Daniel 12:2 ESV

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Tribulation saints will be resurrected - Revelation 20:4

Revelation 20:4 ESV

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Perhaps a governmental restructure will be in order - 2 Tim 2:12; Rev 20:4-6

Revelation 20:4–6 ESV

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Perhaps the marriage supper of the Lamb happens (or begins) in this interval - Rev 19:9

Revelation 19:9 ESV

9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Immediately after this praising and singing was the Armageddon. It could well be that this marriage supper does not take place until AFTER the defeat of the enemy. This would, to my logical mind, make sense. The praise here in Revelation 19, which we saw in earnest last week, is in anticipation of its arrival but like it happens so often, the actual fulfillment of that was slightly deferred.

Though not by any means definitive—it is possible that it is in within this window that the supper happens, or begins (depending on your view regarding how long it lasts).

It is, however, more strongly argued that before the millennium begins, the sheep and goat judgment of Matthew 25:31-46 takes place.

The Sheep and Goat Judgment—Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31–46 ESV

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The text clearly indicates that the events explained here are the same as those described at the end of Revelation 19.

The Son of Man comes in glory, with his angels with him.

Jesus IS the Son of Man - John 5:19-29

John 5:19–29 ESV

19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Judgment has been given to the Son of Man.

A judgement He held until His second coming.

His first coming was about salvation. He came in meekness, humility, service. He came to identify with and save man.

His second is about judgment. He comes in royalty, divinity, might, power, and judgment.

His first coming He is the Son of Man.

Second, He still is, but He is also and now dominantly is seen as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

THEN, Matthew says, He will sit on His glorious throne

Same events that Revelation 20 speaks of.

This text fits in between the end of the tribulation and the beginning of the millennium, within this 75 day window.

Matthew is the only gospel to record it.

Why would Matthew be the only gospel to record it?

What was Matthew’s emphasis in writing his gospel?

His emphasis is on Jesus as King.

His separation of the sheep and goats in this judgment highlight just that. He is King of kings and Lord of lords, and He has the authority to make this separation and determine who goes into the millennium and who does not.

When the Son of Man comes in glory…

The KING will say…

The identification, even in this text escalates.

The titles are used to delineate His purpose and role in each coming.

Certainly some overlap exists, but there is a reason why certain names and titles are used in certain contexts.

For instance, Jesus never referred to Himself as King in public. Only in private did He do this. It would be offense to Jews and Romans alike and Jesus did not intentionally or unnecessarily provoke a crowd. When He did, it was a very different purpose.

Certainly Jesus spoke in parables that aluded to it (Mt 22:1-14).

He evaded it with Pilate (Mt 27:11)

Despite it being clear who Jesus is; despite Jews understanding His claims, He was careful to not make statements in such a manner that would provoke conflicts where conflicts were not needed or where time and plan was not ready for them.

This text slips in right at the end of the tribulation.

We have seen a massive bloodbath at The Valley of Mediggdo—Armgaddeon.

But, it is clear from this texts existence that despite the massive army that gathered here, not the entirety of earth’s population was gathered here. Believers and unbelievers alike survive to reach the end of the tribulation.

The reality of which needs addressing before the 1000 year reign of Christ officially begins.

And once established, it will never cease - Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:31-33

Thus the Sheep and the Goats

This judgement is essentially about WHO will enter the millennium.

The rebellious unbelievers who did not gather for the battle, who survived to this point will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Vs 46)

The believers, the repentant, the ones who turned and avoided martyrdom during the tribulation, will go into eternal life (vs 50)

There is no indication that those believers who live till end and go directly into millennium experience a transformation of body like those who would have died and returned with Him.

Appears they go into the millennium with same bodies they have always had.

BUT because of the saints who are resurrected and who return with Christ, there will be a mingling of both transformed and non transformed on earth during the millennium.

Revelation 20:1-3 will show the removal of Satan from the earth, to be bound in the bottomless pit for 1000 years.

With his removal….

With the removal of all the wicked, rebellious, unrepentant believers, the source of any further disbelief and rebellion will only be coming from man’s own heart.

The fact that Revelation 19 showed Jesus coming down, a battle on earth, and now thrones (Matthew 25) on earth leads us to conclude that this will in fact be a literal kingdom on earth and from which Jesus will rule.

The Sheep and goat judgment is about the separation of the remaining survivors on earth. God, without exception or error, will separate the believers from the unbelievers.

Sheep represent the righteous

Docile, gentle.

Goats represent the unbelievers

Unruly, rambunctious—often upsetting the sheep

Though often herded together, the sheep are often bothered by the goats.

Sheep are placed on His right - place of favor and blessing

Goats are moved to His left - Disfavor, rejection, judgment

The kingdom, the righteous have been prepared for this from before the foundation of the world . Romans 8:29–passive—God does this, not us. 1 Peter 1:3-5

Not based on works

The works are the evidence the faith and salvation exist.

This disclaimer could exist (prepared from the foundation of the world) to ward off misunderstanding that their works are the basis of their salvation and separation.

The works are the fruit, not the root, for their judgement or salvation.

The works mentioned

Helping the hungry

Nourishing the thirsty

Helping the stranger

Clothing the naked

Tending the sick

Serving the prisoner

These are what the gospel does. These are what faith do. These responses evidence a life changed by the gospel.

Especially in a day when NO ONE would have excess because of the judgements that have been falling on the earth.

The sacrificing of resources to serve the brothers, who lack these things—things being withheld by the kingdom of antichrist—is evidence of a life changed by the gospel.

2 Corinthians 8:1-5–they gave beyond their means.

That is what these trib saints are doing as well.

What we do unto other believers, we do unto Christ - Mt 10:40; Jan 13:35

At the end of the 75 days, the millennial kingdom is established - Isaiah 2:2-4; Ezekiel 37:1-13, 40-48; Micah 4:1-7; Revelation 20

At the end of the millennium, there is one final battle/rebellion and one final judgement—the Great White Throne.

The presence of which reveals that not everyone born during the tribulation will repent and believe.

But, as was mentioned, with the removal of Satan—the only source of their temptation and rebellion is their own sin nature.

Conclusion

Application