The Kingdom of God, Student Workbook, SW02

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T H E K I N G D O M O F G O D

b. Yet texts like 1 Thessalonians 4.16, 2 Thessalonians 2.8, and Matthew 24.27 associate the term parousia to a powerful, single, and unified public event.

c. Saints await the one blessed hope (not hopes) and the appearing (not appearings) of the glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2.13.

II. The Various Millennial and Tribulation Views Associated with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

A. The disputed millennial question is whether or not there will be a millennium (a 1,000 year earthly reign of Jesus Christ), and if so, will it occur before or after his coming.

1. Postmillennialism is founded on the idea that the preaching of Jesus will be so successful that the world will be converted, and the reign of Christ will be complete and universal.

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a. Appeals to verses like Isaiah 45.22-25

b. Most popular at times when the Church has been succeeding in political or social transformation

c. Has lost support in the wake of the world wars of the 20th century and mass devastation and injustice of modern times

2. Premillennialism believes in a literal earthly reign of Christ for approximately one thousand years after his return.