Part 7: The Pentecostal and Assembly of God Churches, Origins and Unscriptural Teachings

Premillennialism is another erroneous belief held by countless churches. Millennial means a thousands years, premillennial means before the thousands years. The concept of Premillennialism is one of three main theories in Revelation, conjured up by some theologians.

They use these scriptures, Revelation 20:1-6 to mean that Christ is coming back to live for a thousand years. This is a highly figurative passage which his is the foundation passage of the Premillennialism theory.

• 1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
• 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,
• 3 and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time.
• 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshiped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
• 5 The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection.
• 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years”

It is admitted by Premillennials that many expressions in this chapter are figurative and symbolical and cannot be taken literally, but a literal one thousands years is insisted.

As we see the advocates of this theory read many things into the passage that are absolutely not there.

Note for instance these five assertions:

1. There is no mention of a second coming
2. No mention of a bodily resurrection
3. No mention of a literal throne of David
4. No mention of Jerusalem or Israel
5. No mention of Christ returning and reigning for a thousand years on earth

Advocates give Christ’s home on earth to live in is at, Jerusalem in Israel. Note when theorists read into the passage things that are not there, they add to the Word of God, and are counted as false teachers.

For a detailed explanation of Premillennialism see these two articles:

• Is the Rapture Doctrine Taught in the New Testament?
• What About the Theory Premillennialism in Revelation?

Part 8: The Pentecostal and Assembly of God Churches, Origins and Unscriptural Teachings