Yes, depending on how you define "abound." The Sin Nature, or mortality, continues in the Millennium Age, according to my view. But international peace reigns. It might be depicted, roughly, as something less than a divorce--more like lots of little spats. No major wars--just smaller examples of sin, such as the refusal of some nations to worship Christ.
Of course, the Amillennial position has the Kingdom and its peace reigning at present in a spiritual way in the lives of believers. And though they see Satan bound with respect to keeping us out of heaven, he is still free to inspire wars and many kinds of acts of sin.
Whatever position you hold to, you have the Kingdom of God somehow present with sin still continuing. Pick your poison!
I used to be Premil, like many Amils here. Here was a real struggle of mine.
When is the bondage of corruption lifted according to Scripture? What is it connected with? How does Scripture depict the age to come?
Constantly throughout the Word of God we see that “this present evil age” is equated with suffering and pain. The age to come is depicted as an eternal rest and safety. Romans 8:16-18 explains,
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time (or kairos) are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall (or mello or hereafter) be revealed in us.”
There is a constant tension throughout the New Testament in regard to the imperfection of this age and the perfection of the age to come, the temporal nature of our current age and the eternal character of the age to come. The theme is consistent and well-defined. The phrase “this present time” found in this reading closely corresponds with the synonymous expression “this world/age” found throughout the New Testament to describe the here-and-now. It is a saying that is normally used when contrasting the imperfection of this current life to the bliss and glory of the approaching eternal state – “the world / age to come.” In fact, Scripture only knows of two ages – “this age” and the “age to come,” Scripture make no mention of, or allowance for, any imperfect semi-glorious/semi-corrupt transitional age in-between “this present time” or age and the eternal “age to come,” as Premils argue.
In this reading, Paul is simply comparing the testing and trials that God’s people currently endure in this current life, which is plagued with all the consequences of the fall, and the joy of the eternal state when Christ comes that is totally purged of the curse. The portrayal of this age correlates with Galatians 1:4 that labels “this present time” of “sufferings” as “this present evil age.” Paul speaks of a time when “the children of God” will be “
glorified together” at His return. He assures his audience that the difficulties of this life are nothing “to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us” when Christ appears. His whole focus is the glory that will be finally and eternally realized at Christ’s return.
Romans 8:19-23 continues,
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption (phthora or decay) into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.”
The Greek word interpreted “vanity” in the KJV is the Greek word
mataiotes meaning: 1) what is devoid of truth and appropriateness; 2) perverseness, depravity; 3) frailty, want of vigour
. This embodies all consequences of sin on the earth.
God in His providence and infinite wisdom has ordained a day when He will finally bring time, evil and the bondage of corruption to an end. This passage speaks of an approaching climactic event in history that will eventually and eternally release all creation
from a position of current anguish and despair
to a place of total liberation and relief. In fact, there can be no doubt; the central focus of this whole passage is the yearning of “the whole creation” for the day when “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” There is indeed a termination to the “bondage of corruption” – it is the one and only future all-consummating Coming of Christ.
There is a direct connection between the liberation of “creation” and the liberation of the “sons of God.” Both the creature and creation are waiting for “the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body” – or resurrection day. This is the day when both will simultaneously be delivered from the aforementioned “bondage of corruption.” The day of redemption is shown throughout Scripture to be the second coming of Christ. It is there is that man experiences the final part of redemption – the redemption of his body.
R.C. Sproul expounds:
“In this present darkness, the curse extends to the end of the earth— to our lives, to our labors, to our businesses, to our relationships. All suffer under the pangs of the curse of a fallen world. That’s why there’s a cosmic yearning, where all of creation groans together waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, waiting for that moment when the curse is removed.”
This earth has been gradually degenerating since the fall. That is why people lived a lot longer at the beginning and why the earth would have probably produced a great deal more bountifully. Because of its degenerating state, creation will be regenerated and brought back to its pristine state. We see that in Psalm 102:25-27, which predicts,
“Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.”
This earth is depicted in Scripture as gradually decaying to such a stage that it needs replaced. The surface of this earth is metaphorically likened unto a well-worn overcoat that needs replaced with a brand-new spotless garment. This is shown throughout the sacred pages to occur at the second coming. Christ is not going to replace the current tattered earthly coat with another deteriorating coat, as Premillennialists imagine. No! But rather a new perfected garment.
We see that also in Hebrews 1:10-12 tells us,
“Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish [Gr. apollumi]; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old [Gr. palaioo] as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed [Gr. allasso]: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.”
These passages confirm the reality of the ongoing existence of the bondage of corruption. Comparing this earth to a fading and deteriorating garment, the writer tells us that the current heavens and earth is waxing old. The Greek word employed here for “wax old” is
palaioo which means
worn out, decaying or to declare obsolete. The Greek word
apollumi means to destroy fully or perish.
These passages assure us that current imperfect decay earth/heavens is going to be replaced soon by a perfect arrangement. Creation is going to experience a supernatural overhaul because of its damaged and deficient character. The import here is of the current deteriorating and decaying heavens and earth being changed and replaced with a new non-decaying vesture. Of course, repeated Scripture locates this at the second coming of Christ.
The phrase “they shall be changed” in the Old Testament passage is taken from the Hebrew word
chalaph: meaning
to hasten away, pass on, or change. In the New Testament passage, it is taken from the Greek word
allasso which means
“to make different.” It is interesting to note the thrust of these 2 passages. They show the temporal nature of the current heavens and earth but the eternality of God’s goodness, faithfulness, years and salvation. This current corrupt earth has an expiration date.