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DECEMBER 31
great, standing before God, and books were delivered up the dead who were in them. And
opened. And another book was opened, which they were judged, each one according to his
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is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged works. Then Death and Hades were cast into
according to their works, by the things which the lake of fire. This is the second death. And
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were written in the books. The sea gave up anyone not found written in the Book of Life
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the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades was cast into the lake of fire.
DAY 30:What is the Millennium?
In Revelation 20:2, Satan is bound for “a thousand years.” This is the first of 6 references to the
length of the millennial kingdom (vv. 3,4,5,6,7).There are 3 main views of the duration and nature
of this period:
1) Premillennialism sees this as a literal 1,000-year period during which Jesus Christ, in fulfill-
ment of numerous Old Testament prophecies (e.g.,2 Sam.7:12–16;Ps.2;Is.11:6–12;24:23;Hos.3:4,5;
Joel 3:9–21; Amos 9:8–15; Mic.4:1–8; Zeph.3:14–20; Zech.14:1–11; Matt.24:29–31,36–44), reigns on
the earth. Using the same general principles of interpretation for both prophetic and nonprophetic
passages leads most naturally to Premillennialism. Another strong argument supporting this view
is that so many biblical prophecies have already been literally fulfilled, suggesting that future
prophecies will likewise be fulfilled literally.
2) Postmillennialism understands the reference to a 1,000-year period as only symbolic of a
golden age of righteousness and spiritual prosperity. It will be ushered in by the spread of the
gospel during the present church age and brought to completion when Christ returns. According
to this view, references to Christ’s reign on earth primarily describe His spiritual reign in the hearts
of believers in the church.
3) Amillennialism understands the 1,000 years to be merely symbolic of a long period of time.
This view interprets Old Testament prophecies of a Millennium as being fulfilled spiritually now in
the church (either on earth or in heaven) or as references to the eternal state. Using the same liter-
al, historical, grammatical principles of interpretation so as to determine the normal sense of lan-
guage,one is left with the inescapable conclusion that Christ will return and reign in a real kingdom
on earth for 1,000 years. There is nothing in the text to render the conclusion that “a thousand
years”is symbolic.

December 31 They shall be called the Territory
of Wickedness,
And the people against whom the LORD
Malachi 1:1–4:6
will have indignation forever.
The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel 5 Your eyes shall see,
1 by Malachi. And you shall say,
‘The LORD is magnified beyond the
2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD.
“Yet you say, ‘In what way have You border of Israel.’
loved us?’ 6 “A son honors his father,
Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” And a servant his master.
Says the LORD. If then I am the Father,
“Yet Jacob I have loved; Where is My honor?
3 But Esau I have hated, And if I am a Master,
And laid waste his mountains and his Where is My reverence?
heritage Says the LORD of hosts
For the jackals of the wilderness.” To you priests who despise My name.
Yet you say, ‘In what way have we
4 Even though Edom has said,
“We have been impoverished, despised Your name?’
But we will return and build the 7 “You offer defiled food on My altar,
desolate places,” But say,
‘In what way have we defiled You?’
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
By saying,
“They may build, but I will throw down; ‘The table of the LORD is contemptible.’

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