During the first centuries after Christ, the constant threat of

martyrdom turned the believers attention to the promises of the Millennial

day, but as persecution waned, and `other things' entered, the Millennium

became spiritualized.  This attitude was first noticed in the teachings of

Caius at the close of the second century and was greatly furthered by Origen

whose spiritualizing is a matter of common knowledge.  It was taught later

that martyred Christians had risen from the dead, and were spiritually

reigning with Christ unseen.  Rabbinical tradition held that the seventh

thousand years from the creation of man will be a sabbatical thousand, a

climax to the heptads of days, weeks, months and years (of which the Jubilee

and the prophecy of Daniel 9, are outstanding examples).

During the time of Cromwell, a sect called `Fifth Monarchy Men' held

that a universal kingdom, following the four indicated in the image of Daniel

2, must be set up, and that no single person ought to rule mankind until the

Lord's Coming, civil government being provisionally administered by the

saints.  We must be prepared, it seems, for the continual uprising of many

and varied attempts to explain and expound the Millennium, in which of

course, the present effort must be included, with the possibility of

prejudice and ulterior motive.  Prophetic students today are divided mainly

into two groups:

Those who believe that Christ must return before

the Millennial kingdom can be set up, called Pre -Millennialists.

Those who believe that this kingdom will be the result of the

growing activity of the Church, and that Christ will not return until

that goal is achieved.  These are called Post -Millennialists.

In Volume 6 of The Berean Expositor, published in 1916, on pages 65 and 66 we

`As we view these passages of Scripture together (viz. Rev. 5:9,10 and

20:6), it seems that the priestly kingdom is the millennial kingdom,

and only those who have overcome, and have had part in the first

resurrection constitute its members.  We cannot help but feel that Old

Testament prophecies concerning future blessings have been too hastily

generalized as millennial.  We believe that investigation will prove

that much that has been considered millennial does not take its place

till the thousand years are finished, and that a place in the

millennial kingdom is largely a matter of being "accounted worthy".

This we will consider in its place.  If it is established it will be

nothing short of revolutionary in its effect upon the teaching of

Scripture relative to the ages to come'.

`In its place' is now, and so, forty years after making the initial promise,

we have redeemed it.  Our findings are published:

In a booklet entitled Zion, the Millennium, and the Overcomer.

In several articles in the volumes of An Alphabetical Analysis

devoted to Prophecy, which are Parts eight and nine of this series.

Turning now to Revelation 20, we observe that it is in historical

sequence with events that are recorded in chapter 19, and the following

conspectus of events is set forth before the reader as an analysis of what

must take place, and which will lead to the setting up of the Millennial

kingdom.  Here we are on safe ground.  John cannot be accused of writing with

preconceived ideas to uphold, he `received' this book from the Lord.