Sermon Tone Analysis

The Millennial Reign of Jesus on Earth: Why the Future Matters Today

Defining Our Terms

Premillennialism--the millennium is literal, Christ will rule, and this will follow and indeed be the direct result of His return in power to this earth, as He has promised.

Amillennialism—no literal millennium.

Postmillennialism--”That view of last things which holds that the kingdom of God is now being extended in the world through the preaching of the Gospel and the saving work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of individuals, that the world is eventually to be Christianized, and that the return of Christ is to occur at the close of a long period of righteousness and peace commonly called the “Millennium.”

… The second coming of Christ will be followed immediately by the general resurrection, the general judgment, and the introduction of heaven and hell in their fullness.”

(Boettner)

Arguments favoring premillennialism (James Boice, a Reformed premillennialist):

Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 511.

The obligation to interpret Scripture normally

Unfulfilled prophecy awaits fulfillment

Only premillennialism gives a meaningful culmination of world history

God’s assignment for man requires it

God’s Purpose for Man Revealed

The Imago Dei

The image of God is primarily revealed in the actual activity of man functioning as he was created to function.

To be in the image and likeness of God is to make visible the invisible.

Man was created to be king, so that by his being and through his function he could serve to bring glory to the King.

God’s Purpose for Man Repressed

Genesis 3:17-19

Romans 5:12

Has the purpose of God failed?

Redemption is eschatological

God’s Purpose for Man Restored

The Old Testament

The New Testament

God’s Purpose for Mankind Realized

The 2nd Coming ushers in the promised kingdom, and the characteristics of that kingdom.

—judgment

—righteousness and justice

—peace

—an end of sin

—Satan deposed

—an indestructible kingdom

—King of kings and Lord of lords

--a visible, judicial, earthly kingdom marked by everlasting dominion over a restored creation.

1-2—a visible, judicial, earthly kingdom marked by everlasting dominion over a restored creation.

Jesus Christ is the perfect image of God and the perfect representative of man, and thus fulfills God’s purpose for man.

When?

During His kingdom, when all creation is brought into submission.

Creation itself longs for this fulfillment of man’s purpose (; )

—a visible, judicial, earthly kingdom marked by everlasting dominion over a restored creation.

Must Christ Literally Reign on the earth?

The integrity of God demands it.