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Premillennialism is a very popular doctrine, but unfortunately it is a false one. Basically, it is the idea that we are living before the 1,000-year reign spoken of in Revelation 20:6. Its proponents believe this passage teaches that Christ will return to earth to establish His kingdom, rebuild the temple, and rule and reign in Israel on David’s throne for a literal 1,000 years. During this time it is believed that Christ will be triumphant against Israel ’s enemies much as occurred during the reign of King David. (Even the battle of Armageddon is asserted to be literal.) This doctrine is based entirely on the assumption that Revelation 20:6 speaks of a literal reign on earth. But the 1,000-year reign is not to be viewed as literal, nor can we expect Christ to reign on earth because He cannot be a priest on earth (Jer. 22:30; Heb. 8:4). Although He is King, he is also a priest.
The Jews, as a whole, rejected Christ so they do not think it is He that will return—but another. When Jesus was trying to persuade the Jews to believe He was the Savior, the leaders sought to kill Him. But many who heard Him believed and chided those who saw His miracles yet rejected Him. John’s record says, “A lot of people in the crowd put their faith in him and said, ‘When the Messiah comes, he surely won't perform more miracles than this man has done!’" (John 7:31 CEV). Jesus said to the unbelievers, “I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (John 5:43). Thus, the Jews ignored the overwhelming evidence that proved Jesus was who He claimed, and they therefore rejected Him—perhaps because His kingdom was not of the nature they expected or wanted.
That premillennialism has no foundation in Scripture is evident because of the fact that the kingdom of Christ already exists (Rev. 1:9; Col. 1:13). The church, established in AD 33, and the kingdom are the same institution—described in numerous ways. Jesus said to His disciples,
"Most assuredly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come with power" (WEB).
Thus, either those men are still living or Jesus’ statement was untrue. You can be certain the kingdom did come with power just as Jesus promised.
Jeremiah prophesied of a new covenant that would be made with the house of Israel and Judah (Jer. 31:31-36). This covenant would replace the original covenant (Heb. 8:6-13, 10:9-10; Col. 2:10-14).
The Jews (Israelites) were finally divorced by God because of unfaithfulness and refusal to repent (Ezek. 16:32-34; Jer. 3:8; Rom. 10:21). Those who would be true to God must come to Him through Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 3:10, 11). Paul said, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Rom. 10:1). The hope of Israel is NOT that Christ will come and set up a kingdom, rebuild the temple, and conquer the world. Rather, they must come to Christ, the King, if they want to be saved. Those who come to Christ are the true Israel, which is the church—the bride or wife of Christ (Rev. 21:2; Rom. 7:1, 4, and 9:6, 7). Christians are the temple of God and God dwells in us (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 3:16).
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