Will an earthly-type kingdom in which Christ will reign here upon earth for a thousand years, as some teach, replace it? The answer is an emphatic NO! There is nothing like that taught in the Bible. A man by the name of C. I. Scofield, who was a lawyer from the state of Kansas, promoted the false concept of a secret coming of Christ, the first resurrection, and rapture that he learned from a British preacher by the name of John Darby. The word “rapture” is not even in the Bible. Scofield used Darby’s theories in notes added to a King James Bible in 1909 and a revised edition in 1967. Men like Hal Lindsey have further promoted various false theories concerning the end of time and premillennialism. Hal Lindsey’s book entitled, “The Late Great Planet Earth” had been a best seller among many gullible people. The so-called Scofield Bible has been the tool of Satan to promote the false theories of premillennialism more than any other source. Again, premillennialism is not taught in the Bible, but is included in the added notes of C. I. Scofield in some printed editions of the Bible.

The spiritual kingdom of the Lord has already been established (Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 12:28). This is contrary to the claim of some that the people of the first century were not prepared to receive the kingdom; therefore, the Lord postponed the establishing of His kingdom. They further teach that the church was an after thought of God to exist until the Lord establishes His kingdom here upon earth. This also proves to be false because the church was within the eternal purpose of God, not an after thought (Ephesians 3:10-11). Actually, the church and the spiritual kingdom that Christ foretold would come in the lifetime of some of His disciples that were living in the first century is one and the same institution. It is the redeemed! (Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:12-18; Mark 9:1; Acts 2:47).

Rather than the Lord returning to set-up an earthly-type kingdom, He will not set foot upon the earth when He returns. The Son of God will return to receive His kingdom, which already exists, rather than to establish one (1 Corinthians 15:23-24). When Jesus returns, those that are in His spiritual kingdom will rise up to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). No one knows when this will be. I repeat! NO ONE KNOWS WHEN THE END OF TIME WILL BE! Jesus saith concerning the end of time, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Therefore, anyone who sets a date for the second coming of Christ is a false prophet.

--Dub Mowery