From my ‘imperfect’ understanding, Seventh-day Adventism believes that the Millennium is ‘without form, and void’ for it’s whole one thousand year duration and that during this period of time the only inhabitance of the entire Earth are Satan and his Angels. Totally alone they find themselves unable to deceive the Nations any longer. Seventh-day Adventism calls this situation ‘The Abyss’ or 'The Bottomless Pit' (both refer to Rev 20:1-3). This Abyss, although on the Earth refers more to the prevailing conditions mentioned rather than the location.
A crude and poor explanation of Seventh-day Adventist doctrine regarding this matter maybe the obvious linking between the prevailing conditions of the Earth as mentioned in Gen 1:2 and Jer 4:23-28.
Gen 1:2
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Jere 4:23
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
The similarities in the descriptions of the condition mentioned concerning Gen 1:2 and Jer 4:23-28 can not be denied. Although the same word is used (Earth ST 776) looking at the context of the whole chapter of Jere 4:23 it appears to be not only referring specifically to the Israelites but with regard to location, the land of Israel alone, this certainly is not the case with Gen 1:2 however, it is striking that the phases are exactly the same and therefore can not be thrown out so easily, we can discuss this further when we meet. But here I would first like to deal with the word “Deep” mentioned in the above verse of Gen 1:2 and also mentioned in Rev 20:3 although clearly absent in Jere 4:23
Gen 1:2 Deep
Strongs OT 8415 thowm teh-home' or thom {teh-home'}; (usually feminine) from 1949; an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean water-supply):--deep (place), depth. see HEBREW for 01949
Rev 20:3
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit,(also Abyss / Abussos) and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season
Not only is this alluded to in the original Hebrew as an Abyss (as above) but when the Hebrew Old Testament was no longer understood by the common people of Israel, this in a Greek speaking World, the Old Testament, as you know was translated into Greek by seventy brilliant scholars based in Alexandria, Egypt about 300 BC. In this version (The Septuagint) the word ‘Abussos’ is used for deep not only in Rev 20:3 but more importantly in Gen 1:2.
Abussos
12 abussos ab'-us-sos from 1 (as a negative particle) and a variation of 1037; depthless, i.e. (specially) (infernal) "abyss":--deep, (bottomless) pit. see GREEK for 1 see GREEK for 1037
So we can clearly say that ‘The Bottomless Pit’, Abyss and Abussos are one and the same thing (Strongs Greek N0 12). But is this a place that has locality or a condition found on the Earth during the one thousand years of Millennium?
The connections made to link the three verses.
Because the word ‘Abyss’ links both Gen 1:2 and Rev 20:1-3 and because the condition on the Earth in Gen 1:2 is clearly identifiable with the condition found on the Earth in Jere 4:23 (of which the SDA believe is the future Millennium period) Therefore the jump is made to declare that the conditions that prevailed on the Earth in Gen 1:2 and Jere 4:23 must prevail throughout the entire one thousand years period in the Millennium spoken of in Rev 20.
Strengthened by the fact that Satan is bound for a thousand years, We rule with Christ for one thousand years and the dead are raised after one thousand years Seventh-day Adventists feel sure their facts are correct, Especially when confirmed by Ellen G White.
So to simplify things, Seventh-day Adventism would say that the:
1). The word ‘Abyss’ links Gen 1:2 to Rev 20:3 by it’s presence in both verses.
2). Conditions on the Earth mentioned in Gen 1:2 to Jere 4:23 are similar linking the two.
3). The above two statements link Jere 4:23 to Rev 20:3.
4). As the SDA believe Jere 4:23 is speaking of the future Millennium of in Rev 20 - The conditions on the Earth in Rev 20 (The Millennium) must match Jere 4:23 and Gen 1:2
6). The conditions spoken of in both Gen 1:2 and Jere 4:23-28 must prevail throughout the whole one thousand years of the Millennium. (Rev 20:1-3)
7). As Satan is thrown into the Abyss he must be thrown into these very same conditions that prevail for 1000 years and this is the ‘Chain of Circumstances’ which form his imprisonment.
To say that the above mentioned is the only reason Seventh-day Adventism believe in a void and empty Earth during the 1000 year Millennium period would be unfair as there is much more to their argument, such as the fact that it is strongly taught, and with some convincing scriptural backing that as all the wicked are killed at Christ’s coming and as all the righteous are then taken to Heaven, and further, as Scriptures such as 2 Peter 3:10-14 appear to indicate a total and utter destruction of not only the cities, Islands, mountains and even the air by fire, that there can not possibly be any other inhabitants left upon the Earth, that is of cause apart from Satan and his Angels.
However a compelling argument that maybe it has to be considered against other Scriptural references and even logical arguments, it is these other references that I would now like to turn to, although you may well have heard them all before. If you are able to take the time to read and consider this letter I fully expect that you will bring something to the table that will ‘knock me sideways’ it wouldn’t be the first time and I have to say it is often these ‘knocks’ that have been such a blessing to me in the past.
We are all guilty of following our own understanding of Scripture, especially when we have it all laid out for us and feel settled and sure. I personally found it very easy indeed to sit back and have my Seventh-day Adventist friends, the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses lay-out for me very easy to understand structures for understanding the whole Bible. But to study on my own and investigate, read and look at the Bible without following any man’s or organization’s view is so very very hard indeed but the rewards are amazing.
So now I would like to explain why presently I do not except the Seventh-day Adventist’s view of the Millennium and further, to offer-up an alternative view with some Scriptural backing. It does not mean that this view is correct but, still studying the subject it is where I am at present.
I have noticed that generally Seventh-day Adventism backs-up everything with Scripture and this is commendable, therefore | am very interested in how the argument maybe refuted. I will say though that in my experience with the two Seventh-day Adventists I have known, where scriptural backing could not be found (that they couldn’t find it not that it definitely doesn’t exist) they simply ‘spiritulized everything, including much of the events recorded in the book of ‘The Revelation’ and Zechariah.
Firstly I would like to affirm that I believe that ‘The Abyss’ was ‘in’ the Earth in Genesis 1:2 but unlike Seventh-day Adventism do not believe it’s presence was there because of the condition of the Earth at that time but rather, that it was and is presently located here ‘in’ Earth.
Regarding the ‘Legion’, the demons that possessed the man in the tombs, they were terrified that Jesus would throw them into the ‘Deep’ (St 12 - The Abussos - The Abyss) Straight away this would infer that it was then, currently in existence. Although it may not have been the place demons where cast when others cast them out it appears that it was a real and present threat for demons when Jesus cast them out. So it appears that, at least here, the Abyss existed and that Jesus may have been in the habit of increasing the population of the Abyss when He cast out demons that had possibly overstepped their authority.
Luke 8:31
30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
Matt 8:29
Certainly a place they did not want to go, even a place of torment for demons and maybe it would also inhibit the liberty they currently enjoyed?
Mark 5:1
Here they begged that He would not cast them out of their current location, taking Luke 8:31 into account this could only mean that they would be moved to another location that was less desirable than their present one and not just cast out of the man.
Matt 12:43-45 Indicates that it was not the habit of all who cast out demons to cast them into the Abyss but many were still at liberty, and even at liberty to re-enter their host.
A further scriptures that would seem to indicate that the Abyss was a special holding place for demons are Rev 9:1-2 and Rev 9:11
Rev 9:1-2
1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
Again the word is Abussoss/Abyss (St 12) is used. Please note the ‘locality’ of the pit, that the ‘Fallen’ angel has to come to it from another locality. He comes from one location to another, the Earth, or you could say that a fallen angel that is at liberty to roam the air is given authority to release demons that up until then were held in a prison. It is also clear in verse 9 that some demons that are within the Abyss are let out to fulfill a certain tasks at various times during the coming terrible tribulation. The text seems to imply that the Abyss is and always has been (From Gen 1:2 at lest) a holding place for supernatural beings.
Rev 9:11
11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit (Abussoss), whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon
So, there already appears to be demons in the Abyss and they even have a ‘Kingdom’ structure in there. A demon King appointed over other demons that inhabit the Abyss. An authority structure.
It is my understanding that almost all of the events found in the Book of, The Revelation can be found in the Old Testament but the reason for the book is to place into chronological order events that have been, were and shall shortly come to pass (From the days of John). This structure of the book is clear in:
Rev 1:1
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:19
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
I say this as unless it is understood that the book draws almost everything from all over the the Old Testament and brings them, for the first time, into chronological order, the book can appear to be a complex mystery which it certainly is not. It is a very literal record of events. However, many mystify so much of the book and take it out of it’s chronological order to fit their own doctrine.
If this is to be accepted then looking again at Rev 9:1-2 and Rev 9:11 it is clear that at this moment in time the Earth is not in the condition that Seventh-day Adventism requires for the Earth to be called ‘The Abyss’.
Rev 17:8
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Rev 11:7
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
I’d like to throw something in here, something that I am currently studying and am interested in, I shall not quote all the scriptures. Many see the link between the Abyss and the sea. It is often thought that the sea itself maybe the ‘bars’ that hold the demon hordes in the Abyss. Rev 13:1 also mentions that the Beast ascends from the sea.
Rev 20:13 notes that not only death and Hell give up their dead but also the sea. Knowing that more die and are buried on land it is rather odd that the land also wasn’t mentioned. With the demons in the ‘Lake of Fire’ at the time of the New Heaven and the New Earth it is also notable that there is no more sea.
Back to Scripture.
Rev 20:1-3
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Again, that he can not deceive the Nations would imply that the Nations still existed and are, if Satan was at liberty, capable of being deceived.
Seventh-day Adventism teaches that the fire that descends from Heaven and destroys the resurrected wicked is the ‘Lake of Fire’. Rev 20:9
Regardless if you agree with or see what I have tried to explain regarding the Abyss I think I have made an attempt and shall move on. The above is the general understanding of the subject not only today but in also in history by the general Church. Although not all have made such a study and many have no knowledge of this subject at all. The great thing is I am at liberty to question not only this but all things even the doctrine of faith. I do not fear God for doing so but believe He is pleased that I explore and sound out such beliefs, this is not so with many I have studied with but they often feel as though they are dishonouring God by questioning what they have been taught by men.
So having suggested that not only does Satan occupy the Abyss during the Millennium but that it exists today, right now, I would now like to attempt to suggest that the Earth is actually occupied by people during the Millennium period.
Seventh-day Adventism states that at the coming of Christ all the wicked are destroyed 2 Peter 3, all the righteous are taken Jn 14:1-3 and that Satan and his angels are left alone on the Earth. However as mentioned there are problems with this view.
Looking at Zechariah 14 which is clearly speaking of the Second Coming of our Lord , He returns exactly in the way and to the very place He had said He would.
Acts 1:11-12
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
So Jesus left from the Mount of Olives and there He returns.
Zechariah 14:1-4
1 Behold, the day oF THE LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 THEN SHALL THE LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
The terrifying World wide earthquake that finishes the kingdoms of men shown in the great image of Daniel 2.
The above verses are very hard for a Seventh-day Adventist to understand as the reality of the Battle of Armageddon has been spiritulized away and not considered literal.
Dan 2:35b
...and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
The promised Jewish kingdom begins at Jerusalem in a devastated and unorganized Earth, an Earth so smashed that all the systems of the Earth are finished. As the rock of Daniel 2 grows to cover the whole Earth from Jerusalem so does the coming ‘promised Jewish Kingdom’.
Mankind will be rare after such a terrible period of time, not only does the wrath of the Anti-Christ kill many but so do the Judgments of God spoken of in the Revelation but finally the second Coming kills many.
Isaiah 13:11-13
11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath oF THE LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger
That a few people survive is relevant when again speaking of ‘That Day’ we read:
Zechariah 14:16
16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, THE LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Jesus even alluded to this fact when He stated that if He did not return in time no one of the people who live in this current age would survive, so some do!
Matt 24:22
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Therefore, Jesus comes back in time to make sure that not all the people who inhabit this flesh are destroyed so that the promised kingdom can be populated by both Jews and Gentiles.
This flesh that is saved is the corrupt flesh that we today live in. So some of this corrupt flesh shall survive to populate the Millennium. That it is corrupt and rebellious is evident by the fact that Jesus has to ‘Rule with a Rod of Iron” and we who have had our flesh transformed (1 Cor 15:54) shall rule with Him. But notice that this people (The Gentiles) have to be compelled to worship the King!
Zech 14:17
17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, THE LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
At the end of the Millennium Satan is released to expose the nature of ‘This Flesh’ once and for all and it at the last has no excuse for it’s rebellion nor right to continue, for after being ruled by a righteous King and with no satanic temptation, as soon as they are tempted to rebel they turn on the City that righteously ruled the whole World for 1000 years. Rev 20.
Most understand that there are three types of people on Earth today. Gentiles, The Church and the Jews. Each has a different future and remain separate at lest until eternity begins. Presently Jews can become part of the Church but there is a distinct group of Jews who God has made unconditional promises too that are yet to be fulfilled. One of these is the Davidic Kingdom, this Jesus did not deny.
Acts 1:6-7
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
There are so many scriptures pointing to the Jewish Kingdom, if you are interested in knowing more about this promised Kingdom I will dig them-up for you. I have studied it at length but can not so easily pull the scriptures to mind. One thing aught to be said though. Many times the Seventh-day Adventists said that the Jews had lost the promises of God because of disobedience, but not all God’s promises are conditional and eventhough they mess-up some promises remain. When God made a promise to Abraham He even put Abraham to sleep to indicate He was going to keep this promise and that Abraham had no part in the promise being kept. Other promises were conditional though and they were lost and given to a Nation (The Church) worthy of them.
Psalm 89:30-37
30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven
If a literal and chronological view is taken towards the Book of Revelation many of the bizarre occurrences noted in the Seventh-day Advent’s doctrine are resolved. One of the most strange occurrences (Rev 20:7-9) I find is that all the wicked dead are raised all at once all over the desolate Earth (This the Bible doesn't say but SDA doctrine does), with no means of transport, no organization, no supplies of food, water, weapons or leadership they suddenly after being raised as adults, un-amazed somehow manage to navigate the seas land and arrive at Jerusalem to attack the city fed, watered and alive. With all the righteous that ever lived in the city and all the wicked that ever lived attacking the city all men and women that ever lived (From Adam until Christ Comes) would be present and I could only guess that there must be 20-35 billion people at Jerusalem.
This resurrection of the wicked that allows them to live again to attack Jerusalem seems to conflict with Heb 9:27. That when the wicked die the first thing they will be aware after they have been resurrected is the Judgment.
However, millions of people do not follow the writings of Ellen G White for no reason and I respect that and thus dearly would like to understand why this is so. If God’s Church is the Seventh-day Adventist Church I would be a Seventh-day Advents tomorrow in fact I almost was.
As long as we are free to seek and search for the truth that is great for fear, shame and bondage are clearly the works of the evil one.
Hope to see you in April.
God bless. In Christ Jesus, Karl.