We have doubtless heard of the little old lady who drew such comfort from `that blessed word MESOPOTAMIA',

and have passed it over with an indulgent smile. Yet we all seem to have been bewitched by the word MILLENNIUM,

for no such term is found in Scripture. The word has passed beyond the confines of Scriptural exegesis, to the world

outside, so that a Member of Parliament may dismiss a suggestion as `thinking we can bring about the Millennium!'

`All engineering commences on the drawing board'. A moment's reflection will show how sane this observation

really is. If only expositors of the Scriptures would get the overall plan of Prophecy before them, and then see how

far their theories fit or fail, what a deal of trouble, misunderstanding and false teaching would have been spared.

The reader will perceive that this principle is before our mental vision in all the attempts in this analysis to piece the

intricate subjects of Prophecy together. For example, we were at first attracted by the teaching known as `The Pre-

Millennial Kingdom' but before committing ourselves we took it to the Drawing Board, in other words, looked at

the overall picture of Gentile dominion in Daniel 2. We defy anyone to find a loophole for any such kingdom in

verses 44,45, and so, in spite of the claims of friendship and sincere admiration, that pleasant vision had to be set

aside. We hope that every one of our readers will do the same with every suggestion made in this Analysis, for it is,

alas, only too possible that we have a clearer view of the errors of others than of our own.

It is time we rubbed our eyes, took off the spectacles that prophetic students have supplied, and exercised the

Berean spirit, which is so highly commended in the Word of God. All that is positively stated in the Scriptures on

the subject will be found in TEN VERSES of Revelation 20; all other descriptions, promises, characteristics, are

introduced into this period by inference, rightly or wrongly, but by inference only. Books on the Millennium pay

little attention to the actual wording of Revelation 20:1-10, but expatiate and enlarge upon peace and prosperity,

with superlatives that find no warrant in the key passage of Revelation 20. We have moreover, by continually

speaking of `The Millennial Kingdom', unwittingly limited the Reign of Christ to a thousand years; whereas a true

statement would speak of that period as `the first thousand years of a kingdom, which, commencing with the coming

of Christ and the end of Gentile dominion, goes on unbroken (it shall never be destroyed, and shall never pass away

Dan. 2:44; 7:14,27) until the Son having put all things under His feet (for He "must reign" until this is accomplished

1 Cor. 15:25,26 which reaches to the Great White Throne judgment and beyond), delivers up the kingdom to God,

even the Father, that God may be all in all'. This is the reign of Christ, the Millennial reign being but a portion of it,

and possibly a small portion at that. ALL that the Scriptures SAY in Revelation 20, about a Millennium are the

words ta chilia ete `the thousand years'.

These words are in themselves no more `blessed' than the word `Mesopotamia'. They may be a thousand years

of misery for all that this term `Millennium' teaches. Some of us have come to our conclusion as to the character of

this Millennial kingdom only by ignoring what is actually written in the Apocalypse. The prophetic clock does not

automatically stop at the end of the thousand years; what does come to an end is the reign of the OVERCOMERS.

`The King of kings' does not abdicate. The day of the Lord is to be succeeded by the day of God, just as the Davidic

kingdom characterised by the presence of the enemy and of war, was succeeded by the Solomonic kingdom of

Peace. Is it too much to ask the reader, with these challenging statements before him, to lay aside for the time being

at least, whatever he may have held and taught, and approach this important subject afresh? We turn therefore to the

key passage: