We’re going to study Bible Prophecy for a while, the Lord willing. Particularly the coming “thousand year” rule of Christ on earth! Hence, our term “millennium.” It’s Latin, blending two words, “thousand” (spelled by the Romans “mille”) and the noun “year” (spelled “annum”) into one expression.

I suppose our biggest problem today (in this morning’s lesson, anyway) is the fact that our word (“millennium”) actually does not occur in the King James Bible!

But its equivalent certainly does, six times in one chapter in fact! I’m going to share with you that Text now …

I’ve capitalized our key word(s) … “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a THOUSAND YEARS, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the THOUSAND YEARS should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a THOUSAND YEARS. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the THOUSAND YEARS were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a THOUSAND YEARS. 7 And when the THOUSAND YEARS are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:1-10, clearly six times, “thousand years!”

Admittedly our elongated Text does not give a lot of specifics about those “thousand years,” but this much is for sure … “And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Jesus is King during this time, quoting verse 4 above.

Now, to the question asked in the Lesson title … “Is the Millennium a literal or a figurative Bible expression?”

I say LITERAL, without hesitation!

In fact, anytime the Bible is discussing numbers, I take them at face value. Jesus began His Ministry when He was 30 years old! How do we know that? Bible numbers … “And Jesus himself began to be about THIRTY years of age (at His Baptism), being as was supposed the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli ….” Luke 3:23, no one tries to “reinterpret” that number, Jesus’ age.

The last half of the horrible Tribulation Period to yet try this earth lasts 3 1/2 years! Again, how do we know? Revelation 11:2, in part: “And the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” That’s 3 1/2 years, all right, if taken literally!

Dozens upon dozens of other examples could be cited.

So when I read about a future “thousand year” Reign of Christ upon the earth … about the Millennium … I am persuaded that it means 1,000 specific years, just like John wrote.

Not only that, there are countless other allusions and assertions about the Millennium in Scripture, even if not using the exact words “thousand years.”

And some of those will be the subject of our meditations over the next few days, maybe even weeks!

Bible Prophecy, yes!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, the word “millennium” does appear repeatedly in the Latin Vulgate, in Revelation 20.

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Counting today’s remarks, we have enjoyed a total of 81 Lessons from the Book of Acts! Something from every chapter, of course. And from some chapters, multiple meditations.

And all of these Articles are archived (saved) here for you, should you enjoy going back and reading them again.

I am so grateful for the ministry of Luke in the life of Paul. In fact, this “beloved physician” (Paul’s term of endearment for Luke, quoted from Colossians 4:14) stayed with Paul right up to the end of his life!

“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. ONLY LUKE IS WITH ME.” 2 Timothy 4:10-11, among Paul’s last words!

In all Luke’s writings, I cannot recall a single time when the man painted Paul in “bad light!” He was a true friend!

What happened after the Book of Acts … to Paul?

We believe he was somehow, eventually released from Roman “house arrest.” Travelled yet again, preaching the Word, only to be rearrested several years later.

At which time Paul then was put to death by a crazed Roman Emperor, probably Nero.

But Luke did not choose to tell us that. He just leaves Paul in Rome “preaching and teaching!” Quoting Acts 28:31, the Book’s very last verse! Somehow I like that a lot …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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If Luke intended to write a biography of the Apostle Paul, he certainly stopped short of his goal!

Looks like rather than biography, Luke is penning us “history” instead. A Record of the Work of the God the Holy Spirit in the early years of the infant (first century) Church.

Amen!

I say that because of the cryptic ending of our Subject of study for months now, our analysis of the book of Acts.

We don’t even know how Paul’s “trial” developed! Or even if he faced Caesar, the Emperor to whom he had appealed for justice. Acts is silent on these issues!

Here’s the final (divinely inspired) Sentence or two … “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” Acts 28:30-31

Are questions popping into your mind, as they are in mine?

Why the “two year” delay? So atypical for Rome!

Where did Paul get the money to rent that house?

How did all these people know of Paul’s presence in Rome? Who drew the crowds?

And what, specifically, did Paul preach and teach during that time. I wish there was a Pauline “Epistle from a Roman Dwelling” that we could read and study!

And isn’t it amazing, “no man forbidding him,” God surely brought Paul into “favor” with some highly place Roman officials!

Then Luke succinctly adds: “The End.”

Thank God for the New Testament’s 14 Letters from Paul’s own hand!

They complete what Luke began!

This sort of makes me want to study my Bible all day long!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Actually Scripture has a lot of open-ended Material! The Parable of the Prodigal Son, for example. (Did the older brother ever make things right?) The Book of Jonah, too. (Did the Prophet pout for years and years?) What about the story of Demas as well? (Did he ever repent? Could he, like John Mark, have rededicated himself to the Lord?)

And this too … the trajectory of your life, Christian friend? And mine? Will we be “faithful” unto death? So far, we all are open ended stories!

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It’s the New Testament Book of “evangelism.” Showing us how the Holy Spirit works in bringing men and women to Jesus. He uses human instrumentality in the process, folks.

And the “Twenty-eight Chapter Masterpiece” (Acts) ends with this example: “And when they had appointed him (Paul) a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.” Acts 28:23-24

“They” (the first pronoun in our Text above) simply means the “Jews” Paul had contacted soon as he arrived in Rome!

Paul is a Roman prisoner, yet he is allowed enough liberty to dwell in a “house” somewhere! Here “xenia” means “a place of hospitality.” Especially for a “stranger, foreigner!” (Paul is not Italian, but Jewish, born of the Tribe of Benjamin!)

And Paul preaches!

Notice the three verbs Luke employs …

“Expounding” (placing one truth beside another) and “Testifying” (witnessing and interacting) the Things of God!

Then “persuading,” actually “urging,” or “inducing” … implying a little exhortation, gentle pressure!

In a word, evangelizing!

“Morning till evening,” he never tired of telling the Gospel! Not they of listening, apparently!

Then here comes the good news, followed by some bad.

“Some believed!”

Hallelujah!

“To the Jew first” (Romans 1:16) but “also to the Greek!”

“And some believed not.”

Sad!

And this is the story of “spreading the Gospel” to this very day!

Some trust Jesus!

Some reject Him!

“God is not willing that any should perish!” The Bible (2 Peter 3:9) clearly promises us.

Then where’s the disconnect?

But some people are just not willing to come!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Tell someone today about Jesus!

Then persuade them a little!

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Once Paul was finally in Rome, he did an unusual thing. “And it came to pass, that after three days Paul CALLED THE CHIEF OF THE JEWS together: and when they were come together, he said unto them …” Acts 28:17

He called his “enemies” to a conference! It was the Jews in Jerusalem who had orchestrated his arrest. And opposed him at every subsequent hearing, trial. Paul’s “kinsmen, according to the flesh.” (Romans 9:3)

He still wants to “defend” the Gospel, and his “lifestyle.” After all, he had done nothing wrong, certainly not worthy of death!

How did Paul’s “meeting” fare? What did he say?

“Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.” Still Acts 28:17, King James Version.

Then he adds: “When they (the Romans) had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.” Verses 18 and 19 of Acts 28.

I think Paul is making some headway! At least they are listening to him. Dialogue! “And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. But we DESIRE to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.” Verses 21 and 22 now, where we learn that no accusers were present! They did not pursue their accusations! Also we hear a “spark” of interest!

Wow!

Paul squarely faced the problem, didn’t he? He did not run, what astounding boldness! (Proverbs 28:1)

Then the little Apostle casts the (soul-winning) net! Ever passionate about Israel! He uses the expression “hope of Israel!”

“For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for THE HOPE OF ISRAEL I am bound with this chain.”

And Israel’s hope is?

The Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul will now witness (testify) to everyone he sees, Jew and Gentile alike! Telling the glorious Gospel Story of the Death and Burial and Resurrection of our Saviour!

“The Hope of Israel” … do you know a Jewish person today? If so, begin introducing them to Jesus! And model the Christian life before their eyes.

Because we do have “hope” concerning those people, the Jews … even this promise (still from the pen of Paul) …

“And so ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer (JESUS), and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Romans 11:26

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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