Premillennialism Shown To Be A Misinterpretation By Three Simple Prophecies

In spite of it being so bizarre, the premillennialists’ story of the Second Coming of Jesus, the battle of Armageddon, and the thousand years reign grabs the hearts of multitudes. They maintain it was God’s ageless plan for Jesus to come to earth the first time to set up an earthly, political, worldwide kingdom. However, they maintain, He was thwarted by the Jews and crucified. Yet, before He went to the cross, He quickly made the plans to establish a temporary substitute: the church, and then come back a second time with forceful power in a horrifying battle to set up the kingdom.
In reply, it must be pointed out and stressed that this doctrine implies that the Jews’ rejection of Jesus was totally unexpected and was never foreknown by God up to that point. Thus, not having foreknown it, God never would have written about it in the OT; He never would have prophesied about Jesus’ death, resurrection nor coronation in heaven. No, if premillennialism is true, there would be no mention of such events in the Bible. Therefore, if there IS mention of these events, then God not only DID foreknow about these events, such is ALSO what God INTENDED to occur, AND the entire story of premillennialism is FALSE! Are there, then, such prophecies? Let’s see.
Isaiah 53:7-8 speaks of one who “was lead as a lamb to the slaughter“ [death] and “was cut off from the land of the living“ [death]. While this is admittedly telling of someone’s death, can it be said that it was a prophecy about Jesus Christ? Acts 8:31-35 interprets it for us. Upon reading this very passage (:32-33), the eunuch asked of whom the prophet spoke (:34), “then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (:35)! Yes, God foreknew of the rejection and death of Jesus; this was His plan—not a life on earth as a king!
Psalm 16:10 tells of one whose soul would not remain in the abode or place of departed souls, nor would his body be dead long enough to decay. Thus, this is speaking of a resurrection, but, is this a prophecy of the resurrection of Jesus who was rejected and slain? Acts 2:22-32 makes it very clear. In Peter’s sermon, he preached Jesus (:22), Who was rejected and slain (:23), Who God raised up (:24), just as the psalmist prophesied (:25) in Psalm 16:10 (:27). Yes, God foreknew that He would be resurrecting Jesus (:31)—this was His plan.
Psalm 110:1 speaks of one who was to be exalted to sit at the right hand of God—thus, a coronation of a Lord in heaven (not on earth). Is this a prophecy about Jesus? Acts 2:32-36 removes all doubt. The inspired preacher says that Jesus (:32) was “exalted to the right hand of God” (:33), into heaven (:34). He then quotes Psalm 110:1 to prove that such is precisely what God said would happen! Thus, in this, Jesus was coroneted king (:36). Yes, God foreknew Jesus’ coronation in heaven—that was His plan.
Thus, by any one of three simple prophecies, the entire concept of premillennialism is proven false. The death, resurrection and coronation in heaven was not an afterthought—it was God’s plan all along! The church was not a desperately established substitute—it was part of His eternal purpose (Eph. 3:9-11). Jesus was not to be coroneted on earth to rule a physical kingdom from Jerusalem—He was to be coroneted in heaven to reign from there over a spiritual kingdom (John 18:19) which is comprised of the saints (Rev. 1:9; Col. 1:13; Heb. 12:28) who will join Him in heaven’s eternal bliss (1 Pet. 1:11). May our caring God Who would have all men to know the truth, attain such on this matter by means of these three simple prophecies.
[This is the first of 6 in a series on the misinterpretations of the doctrine of Premillennialism.]
Gary Henson