Why Christians Should Embrace Partial Preterism

[parousia70]

Partial Preterism is a long-term covenantal view of our lives and Christ's nation. It sees that the Advent of the Messiah took the covenant nation of Israel and gave it a global, universal mission and dominion over all things. Therefore we are simply the next generation of Joshuas and Davids and Ezras and Pauls and Marys and Deborahs whose mission relates to the victorious destiny and inheritance of the Covenant people of God. We are the people of Hebrews 11 faith and dominon. We are the People who God has predestined that we might "establish righteousness and subdue kingdoms" as did the heroes of our Faith (Heb 11:33). And so we are the only nation upon earth that has been given all dominion over Heaven and earth to subdue it and establish Christ's law and rule among mankind.

Indeed the Church used to think that way up until the late 1800s and 1900s when the endtimes leaders (Darby, Scofield, Moody, Sunday, Lindsey, Impe, etc) began to teach a doctrine of "predestined endtimes defeatism for the Church." Their prescription to the Church? Withdrawal. Retreat. "Come out from her my people." Don't vote. "You Don't polish brass on a sinking ship." Your kids aren't gonna live long enough to choose a career, spouse or college. Etc. etc. etc. This short-term thinking has hamstrung our Churches and hamstrung America which was founded on great faith by Christians who were mostly unfamiliar with endtimes short-term thinking patterns. The pioneers of America were builders and people who saw human history through the eyes of all-powerful faith and Divine destiny.

That worldview and faith has been lost due to false endtimes dogmas.

Only return to the Historic Partial Preterist view of the unstoppable Victory of the Gospel in the new covenant age will right that ship.
The historic Church has always had an eschatology of victory and hope. Catholic Amillennialists and later the Postmillennial Revivalists (Johnathan Edwards, etc) all have the same belief that the Church will triumph victorious in this age before the final consummation talked about in the historic creeds. As St. John also said, "The darkness is past; the true light now shineth!"

The apostles rightly understood that the purpose for the end of the Old Covenant Era was "that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7) and that the Church is God's agent of His own glory and wisdom (Eph 3:1-11, 21). Augustine, Eusebius, the Puritans, and today's Reconstructionists all taught/teach us an eschatology of victory and triumph for the Church (and not doom and gloom).

Partial preterism is the most early and established Christian position on eschatology and it is the position that embraces and affirms the Victory of Christ and His Church in this age.

The Church is the only Nation of Christ that goes on forever, and the Church will never crumble (Matt 16:18-19;Eph 3:9-11,21). However, geo-political nations do come and go, for our God "sets up kings and puts them down" (Dan 2:21)... for God "is the supreme governor among the nations" (Ps 22:28)... for our God "rules over all the kingdoms of the heathen so none is able to withstand Him" (2 Chronicles 20:6)... and His "is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is His; His is the kingdom" (1 Chronicles 29:11). That is the gospel. That is the rule of law for mankind. That is the reality of the kingdom. The Church was given dominion over all the universe by divine right (Rom 4:12-18; Matt 28:18/Dan 7:14,27; Matt 5:5), and the world belongs to us (1 Cor 3:22) -- but, as with Joshua, the people of God must take it all by faith (1 Jn 5:4).

The vast majority of American evangelicals are dispensationalists, and they have been taught that America is doomed by God's will because we are in the last days. This has been their gospel for at least the past 100 years, and so those evangelicals and their kids and their grandkids were taught not to govern, run cities, play baseball, launch universities, or even get into media to fulfill one's duty to Christ. Mere personal piety was taught, the kind that doesn't affect anyone or anything else.
Ideas have consequences. Dispensationalist ideas have disastrous consequences (withdrawal, abandonment, escapism, surrender).

Their problem is that dispensationalists were taught a castrated, reduced gospel so that they don't even know what it means to have Christ govern their lives, marriages, jobs, society, and country. Moses understood what it meant to have Christ govern lives, societies, families and country. So did Joshua. And David. And the apostles. And King Jesus. And even many of the fathers of America.

That's why I trust the power of Partial Preterism to get Christians back in the game to win. Nearly all converts are willing, but they are often without vision from their endtimes pastors who have abandoned America due to some foolish "prophetic inevitability." We have to change the faithless cowardice of our abandonment clergy that are too drunk on endtimes wine to carry out their duties to the country, and the World, and encourage all Christians to embrace the victorious, historic preterist eschatology.

 

[Christian Gedge]

A good and worthy emphasis. Yes, far better than the modern pessimistic eschatology of dispensationalism. However, may I lift my finger and ask, where do you place the 'little season' (Rev 20:3) where Satan must be loosed?

 

[keras]

A good OP, Parousia.
I agree the Dispensationalism has a lot to answer for. They teach the 'rapture' is the only thing to look forward to and ignore the many admonitions of keeping strong in faith and enduring until the end.

Partial preterism has many varieties of belief. If it is thought that the next prophesied event will be the Return of Jesus, then they have placed a huge amount of Bible prophecy into past history, where it simply cannot be shown to have actually happened.

Many prophecies plainly state things that are quite feasible to take place and others are metaphorical for places and people who may have had a kind of fulfilment in ancient times, but obviously do not completely fulfil what in Written.
Paul made a very important statement in 1 Corinthians 10:6-13 These things happened to the ancient Israelites as warnings to us...….they were symbolic and were recorded to warn us, upon whom the end of the age has come.
Paul, or his generation didn't experience the end of the age, but from most every way you look at it;
WE will.

 

[claninja]

A good and worthy emphasis. Yes, far better than the modern pessimistic eschatology of dispensationalism. However, may I lift my finger and ask, where do you place the 'little season' (Rev 20:3) where Satan must be loosed?

wouldn’t it be when Christ ascended to heaven? When Christ ascends, Satan is cast out and his time “is short”.


Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Revelation 12:12 - Bible Gateway passage: Revelation 12:12 - English Standard Version

 

[Ronald]

Partial Preterism is a long-term covenantal view of our lives and Christ's nation. It sees that the Advent of the Messiah took the covenant nation of Israel and gave it a global, universal mission and dominion over all things. Therefore we are simply the next generation of Joshuas and Davids and Ezras and Pauls and Marys and Deborahs whose mission relates to the victorious destiny and inheritance of the Covenant people of God. We are the people of Hebrews 11 faith and dominon. We are the People who God has predestined that we might "establish righteousness and subdue kingdoms" as did the heroes of our Faith (Heb 11:33). And so we are the only nation upon earth that has been given all dominion over Heaven and earth to subdue it and establish Christ's law and rule among mankind.

Indeed the Church used to think that way up until the late 1800s and 1900s when the endtimes leaders (Darby, Scofield, Moody, Sunday, Lindsey, Impe, etc) began to teach a doctrine of "predestined endtimes defeatism for the Church." Their prescription to the Church? Withdrawal. Retreat. "Come out from her my people." Don't vote. "You Don't polish brass on a sinking ship." Your kids aren't gonna live long enough to choose a career, spouse or college. Etc. etc. etc. This short-term thinking has hamstrung our Churches and hamstrung America which was founded on great faith by Christians who were mostly unfamiliar with endtimes short-term thinking patterns. The pioneers of America were builders and people who saw human history through the eyes of all-powerful faith and Divine destiny.

That worldview and faith has been lost due to false endtimes dogmas.

Only return to the Historic Partial Preterist view of the unstoppable Victory of the Gospel in the new covenant age will right that ship.
The historic Church has always had an eschatology of victory and hope. Catholic Amillennialists and later the Postmillennial Revivalists (Johnathan Edwards, etc) all have the same belief that the Church will triumph victorious in this age before the final consummation talked about in the historic creeds. As St. John also said, "The darkness is past; the true light now shineth!"

The apostles rightly understood that the purpose for the end of the Old Covenant Era was "that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7) and that the Church is God's agent of His own glory and wisdom (Eph 3:1-11, 21). Augustine, Eusebius, the Puritans, and today's Reconstructionists all taught/teach us an eschatology of victory and triumph for the Church (and not doom and gloom).

Partial preterism is the most early and established Christian position on eschatology and it is the position that embraces and affirms the Victory of Christ and His Church in this age.

The Church is the only Nation of Christ that goes on forever, and the Church will never crumble (Matt 16:18-19;Eph 3:9-11,21). However, geo-political nations do come and go, for our God "sets up kings and puts them down" (Dan 2:21)... for God "is the supreme governor among the nations" (Ps 22:28)... for our God "rules over all the kingdoms of the heathen so none is able to withstand Him" (2 Chronicles 20:6)... and His "is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is His; His is the kingdom" (1 Chronicles 29:11). That is the gospel. That is the rule of law for mankind. That is the reality of the kingdom. The Church was given dominion over all the universe by divine right (Rom 4:12-18; Matt 28:18/Dan 7:14,27; Matt 5:5), and the world belongs to us (1 Cor 3:22) -- but, as with Joshua, the people of God must take it all by faith (1 Jn 5:4).

The vast majority of American evangelicals are dispensationalists, and they have been taught that America is doomed by God's will because we are in the last days. This has been their gospel for at least the past 100 years, and so those evangelicals and their kids and their grandkids were taught not to govern, run cities, play baseball, launch universities, or even get into media to fulfill one's duty to Christ. Mere personal piety was taught, the kind that doesn't affect anyone or anything else.
Ideas have consequences. Dispensationalist ideas have disastrous consequences (withdrawal, abandonment, escapism, surrender).

Their problem is that dispensationalists were taught a castrated, reduced gospel so that they don't even know what it means to have Christ govern their lives, marriages, jobs, society, and country. Moses understood what it meant to have Christ govern lives, societies, families and country. So did Joshua. And David. And the apostles. And King Jesus. And even many of the fathers of America.

That's why I trust the power of Partial Preterism to get Christians back in the game to win. Nearly all converts are willing, but they are often without vision from their endtimes pastors who have abandoned America due to some foolish "prophetic inevitability." We have to change the faithless cowardice of our abandonment clergy that are too drunk on endtimes wine to carry out their duties to the country, and the World, and encourage all Christians to embrace the victorious, historic preterist eschatology.

Man cannot put an end to sin and evil. It is not God's intention that the Church will eventually spread to all mankind and wipe out false religions along with sin. His plan is clear, that a remnant of this planet, the Church (which numbers some 2.5 billion - which is currently almost 1/3 of the population), will be saved and the rest destroyed when Jesus returns.
Judgment Day/The Great Tribulation is detailed throughout Revelation and supported elsewhere in the Old and New Testaments. These events in the seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls are not to be taken as abstract symbolism or cast aside as things that already have taken place. The fall Of Jerusalem was small change compared to what is coming soon. JESUS is literally coming soon and will physically rule over this planet as scripture states. Every knee will bow - hence there will not exist any other religions. Really now, do you see Budhism, Hinduism or Islam going anywhere soon?
The gospel has spread and is right on track. And God throughout history, has balanced and restrained evil for His purpose. Evil is present so that we can understand what good is. Good and evil are growing towards a precipice and soon will be separated! Again, man cannot do this, he's tried and has done the best that God has allowed and purposed for him to do thus far. Don't forget, God is sovereign and so all that has been, is in order and under His control.
Replacement theology is false. Romans 11 clearly states that the Jews were blinded for a purpose and to this day. But God is not finished with them! Enlightenment will come when EVERY EYE SEES JESUS. A remnant 1/3 of them will mourn, their veils will be lifted and God will give them spiritual vision so that they realize that all along, Jesus was and is their Messiah. So they will be grafted into the Church, but will be tested during this period. Even The 144k that are sealed male virgins are of this remnant. This group were specifically detailed as coming from 12 tribes of Israel, 12,000 in each (of whose existence only God knows). These specific names and numbers are not to be taken as symbolism!
So let me reiterate this point: What exactly does the Partial Preterist presume the future looks like? Obviously something that isn't written in scripture ... symbolism fabricated that has little resemblance to what God intended that we take literally.
You really think, given the way we see the world's current state of sin and corruption, that Christianity will saturate the planet? Where is that in scripture?It is not going that way. Remember the way to the gates of heaven is narrow and few find it. The path to destruction is wide! Do you really think the other major religions will someday end by the pure acts of the loving Christian ... and sin as well?
GOD will intervene soon. Sin needs to be judged and that means the ENTIRE WORLD suffer judgment (apart from Christians who are saved) -- not just some small group and town in 70 AD.

 

[sovereigngrace]

wouldn’t it be when Christ ascended to heaven? When Christ ascends, Satan is cast out and his time “is short”.


Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Revelation 12:12 - Bible Gateway passage: Revelation 12:12 - English Standard Version

So when is the great white throne judgment?

 

[sovereigngrace]

Replacement theology is false.

Can you define this?

 

[Christian Gedge]

wouldn’t it be when Christ ascended to heaven? When Christ ascends, Satan is cast out and his time “is short”.


Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Revelation 12:12 - Bible Gateway passage: Revelation 12:12 - English Standard Version

No, because the 'little season' of Satan being loosed happens after the 1000 years is past - not when it begins.

 

[mkgal1]

A good and worthy emphasis. Yes, far better than the modern pessimistic eschatology of dispensationalism. However, may I lift my finger and ask, where do you place the 'little season' (Rev 20:3) where Satan must be loosed?

I've only begun to think this all through, but as of right now, ISTM that what Satan was released to do was to "deceive the nation's" (Rev 20:8) - but that raises the question (in my mind) "deceives them into believing what?". I think the answer to that question is that they're deceived into believing they have the authority to judge who are/who aren't God's people and to protect God's kingdom with military strength and/or political power. IOW - I'm seeing the "loosing of Satan" to equal the times he "gathered them to battle". We have the first Revolt (66 AD - 73 AD) and the Second Great Revolt (132 AD - 135 AD) and CG, as you've posted before (how I'm understanding it) the pattern repeats everytime (earthly) religious power unites with political earthly power and battles against His church. As I see it - the deception is that they (earthly religious power) believe they have the authority from God.

 

[DavidPT]

No, because the 'little season' of Satan being loosed happens after the 1000 years is past - not when it begins.

That is true, but what is also true is that satan's little season occurs after the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, that according to Revelation 20:4. That tells us that the chronology would be this---the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, followed by the 2nd coming, followed by the thousand years, followed by satan's little season.

In case some disagree with this chronology, let's examine some of the texts involved.

Revelation 20:4 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.

What I have underlined has already been fulfilled before satan is even loosed a little season. How could anyone dispute that, then be expected to be taken seriously?

Next let's compare what I have underlined above with that of some of Revelation 13.

Revelation 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

How can there be any martyrs in Revelation 20:4 for not worshiping the image of the beast, until this part is fulfilled first?----saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak

And how can these things not be meaning during the following period of time?

Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Therefore how could my proposed chronology---the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, followed by the 2nd coming, followed by the thousand years, followed by satan's little season.---even remotely be incorrect?


By placing the thousand years in this age before the 2nd coming, is to then place the 42 month reign of the beast in the past and already fulfilled 2000 years ago or more, rather than placing it in the end of the age where it clearly belongs. Christ's 2nd coming is what follows the 42 month reign of the beast. Therefore my proposed chronology has to be correct since all other chronologies place the 42 month reign of the beast in the wrong era of time.

Some try and get around these facts by simply claiming but not actually even remotely proving, that they are correct, regardless. The texts are what is correct, period. The texts involved clearly show that my proposed chronology has to be correct.

 

[sovereigngrace]

That is true, but what is also true is that satan's little season occurs after the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, that according to Revelation 20:4. That tells us that the chronology would be this---the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, followed by the 2nd coming, followed by the thousand years, followed by satan's little season.

In case some disagree with this chronology, let's examine some of the texts involved.

Revelation 20:4 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.

What I have underlined has already been fulfilled before satan is even loosed a little season. How could anyone dispute that, then be expected to be taken seriously?

Next let's compare what I have underlined above with that of some of Revelation 13.

Revelation 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

How can there be any martyrs in Revelation 20:4 for not worshiping the image of the beast, until this part is fulfilled first?----saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak

And how can these things not be meaning during the following period of time?

Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Therefore how could my proposed chronology---the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, followed by the 2nd coming, followed by the thousand years, followed by satan's little season.---even remotely be incorrect?


By placing the thousand years in this age before the 2nd coming, is to then place the 42 month reign of the beast in the past and already fulfilled 2000 years ago or more, rather than placing it in the end of the age where it clearly belongs. Christ's 2nd coming is what follows the 42 month reign of the beast. Therefore my proposed chronology has to be correct since all other chronologies place the 42 month reign of the beast in the wrong era of time.

Some try and get around these facts by simply claiming but not actually even remotely proving, that they are correct, regardless. The texts are what is correct, period. The texts involved clearly show that my proposed chronology has to be correct.

Revelation is clearly not chronological. To believe that would cause you to come to that mistaken conclusion.

 

[sovereigngrace]

wouldn’t it be when Christ ascended to heaven? When Christ ascends, Satan is cast out and his time “is short”.


Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Revelation 12:12 - Bible Gateway passage: Revelation 12:12 - English Standard Version

When did the millennium begin and finish?

 

[DavidPT]

Revelation is clearly not chronological. To believe that would cause you to come to that mistaken conclusion.

I fully agree that Revelation is not chronological throughout, but how does that even remotely debunk what I submitted in the post you were addressing? Do you agree or disagree that the martyrs seen in Revelation 20:4, for not worshiping the beast's image, were martyred before satan is even loosed? And if you agree, it would be silly to think they weren't martyred during the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, don't you think?

 

[sovereigngrace]

I fully agree that Revelation is not chronological throughout, but how does that even remotely debunk what I submitted in the post you were addressing? Do you agree or disagree that the martyrs seen in Revelation 20:4, for not worshiping the beast's image, were martyred before satan is even loosed? And if you agree, it would be silly to think they weren't martyred during the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, don't you think?

I do. But the beast/antichrist/mystery of lawlessness has been around since Bible times.

 

[Christian Gedge]

That is true, but what is also true is that satan's little season occurs after the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, that according to Revelation 20:4. That tells us that the chronology would be this---the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, followed by the 2nd coming, followed by the thousand years, followed by satan's little season.

Im Amil. Can I recommend the author, Kim Riddlebarger. Alternative 2, chew the fat with Sovereigngrace. Alternative 3 have a look at my diagram:

View attachment amillennial.svg

 

[DavidPT]

I do. But the beast/antichrist/mystery of lawlessness has been around since Bible times.

That is not a valid argument though, not according to Revelation 13. First a beast has to rise out of the sea, another out of the earth. Where the 2nd one then says to those dwelling on the earth---that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.---before there can even be any martyrs in Revelation 20:4 for refusing to worship the beast's image. It is beyond silly to think everything I just submitted from Revelation 13, these things initially were fulfilled since Bible times.

I'm not arguing the beast hasn't been around since Bible times, I'm arguing that there was no 2nd beast since Bible times, fulfilling all of the following----And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

And until all of that is fulfilled first, there cannot yet be any martyrs in Revelation 20:4 for refusing to worship it's image. And Revelation 20:4 clearly shows, according to Revelation 13, that they were martyred during the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, and that they were martyred before satan is even loosed. Therefore placing the 42 month reign of the beast chronologically before satan is loosed. And if Amil can't logically connect Revelation 13 with satan's little season, that obviously means Amil has been debunked.

 

[Christian Gedge]

I've only begun to think this all through, but as of right now, ISTM that what Satan was released to do was to "deceive the nation's" (Rev 20:8) - but that raises the question (in my mind) "deceives them into believing what?". I think the answer to that question is that they're deceived into believing they have the authority to judge who are/who aren't God's people and to protect God's kingdom with military strength. IOW - I'm seeing the "loosing of Satan" to equal the times he "gathered them to battle". We have the first Revolt (66 AD - 73 AD) and the Second Great Revolt (132 AD - 135 AD)

Problem is the 'little season' of Satan being loosed happens after the '1000 years'. The battles you reference occurred early in the Christian era. It creates quite a paradox for your timeline.

… and CG, as you've posted before (how I'm understanding it) the pattern repeats everytime (earthly) religious power unites with political earthly power and battles against His church.

Yes, it is a pattern that tends to repeat, but Rome was by no means the last. Ill try to give examples of ‘Beast’ empires in future topic ideas. Stay tuned.

 

[DavidPT]

Im Amil. Can I recommend the author, Kim Riddlebarger. Alternative 2, chew the fat with Sovereigngrace. Alternative 3 have a look at my diagram:

View attachment 270824

As to your diagram, how does that debunk anything I have submitted thus far? I haven't seen you or anyone else as of yet, show how the chronology of events I proposed, that they are incorrect somehow. Clearly the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13 is not after the thousand years, it is before the thousand years. And since the 2nd coming has to follow the 42 month reign of the beast in Revelation 13, therefore the thousand years in question cannot be during this current age as your diagram illustrates. Your diagram alone doesn't prove that.

 

[mkgal1]

until all of that is fulfilled first, there cannot yet be any martyrs in Revelation 20:4 for refusing to worship it's image

If we understand "the beast" to be - in general terms - an earthly religious power that had usurped God's true power - couldn't all the judges and prophets that were sent BY GOD (but murdered instead) to get the ancient Israelite assembly back on course in their sole allegiance to the One True God be those martyred that "reign with Christ" for the millienial period? That's an awkwardly written sentence, I know :/

 

[DavidPT]

If we understand "the beast" to be - in general terms - an earthly religious power that had usurped God's true power - couldn't all the judges and prophets that were sent BY GOD (but murdered instead) to get the ancient Israelite assembly back on course in their sole allegiance to the One True God be those martyred that "reign with Christ" for the millienial period? That's an awkwardly written sentence, I know :/

The problem is still this. It doesn't matter that Revelation is not chronological throughout. Actually I agree that it isn't. And it doesn't matter if you might even be correct about some of the above you submitted. What does matter, that what is chronological and cannot be disputed, the thousand years chronologically precede satan's little season. And in thousand years context, and not in satan's little season context, Revelation 20:4 shows that the events of Revelation 13 are fulfilled and in the past before satan is even loosed. And since Revelation 13 can't logically fit the time of satan's little season after the thousand years, the fact it precedes it instead, Amil then cannot be a valid position. Therefore we cannot presently be in the thousand years.