Is There Historical Basis for the Belief in a Millennium and Rapture?

Direct Answer

Yes — Les Feldick teaches that the millennium and the rapture have a solid scriptural basis: Revelation gives the thousand-year kingdom, and Paul reveals the catching away of the Church.

The evidence clips focus on the biblical foundation rather than church history. Les shows that Revelation alone supplies the thousand-year time frame for the Kingdom, and that no Old Testament, Gospel, or Acts passage hints at the rapture; it is a Church Age doctrine revealed only by Paul.

Key Scriptures

Revelation 20:6 — This verse reveals the thousand-year reign of Christ, providing the biblical basis for the Millennium.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — Paul describes living believers being caught up to meet the Lord, the event Les teaches as the rapture.

What Does the Bible Say?

The Bible itself supplies the two central truths. In Revelation 20:6, Scripture says of the resurrected saints, "they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." Earlier, Daniel 7:14 describes a kingdom that "shall not be destroyed," showing that the Old Testament already pointed to an everlasting kingdom. On the rapture, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says the dead in Christ will rise first, then "we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." Paul also calls this a mystery in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, when "we shall all be changed" at the last trump.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About the Millennium and the Rapture?

Les Feldick explains that the millennium and the rapture are biblical doctrines rather than later inventions. He notes that throughout the Old Testament the Kingdom is promised to Israel, but no time frame is attached until Revelation, where the thousand years appears; this is why the Kingdom is called the Millennium. He teaches that the thousand-year reign is really an introduction into the eternal kingdom, not a contradiction of the Old Testament's "forever" language. For the rapture, Les emphasizes that not a single hint of living believers being suddenly taken off the scene appears in the Old Testament, the Gospels, or Acts. The rapture is a Church Age doctrine, and since the Apostle Paul is the only writer in Scripture who writes about the Church, Paul's writings contain the rapture teaching. Les also connects the rapture to the pre-tribulation return of Christ and insists that the Church cannot enter the Tribulation because believers are under grace, not law, and the two systems cannot be mixed.

What Is the Millennium, and Where Does the Thousand-Year Time Frame Come From?

Les Feldick points out that the Old Testament and the Gospels speak of a kingdom promised to Israel, but no time frame is attached until Revelation, where the thousand years appears. He explains that the reign is called the Millennium because of that thousand-year period, and he emphasizes that this period is not separate from the eternal kingdom—it is the introduction into eternity.

Why Does Les Feldick Separate the Rapture from the Second Coming?

Les describes the pre-tribulation rapture as the taking out of the Church before the Tribulation, and the second coming as Christ's return to the Mount of Olives before the millennium. In his teaching, the Church is raptured first, then later returns with Christ to rule and reign.

Does the Bible Mention the Rapture Before the Apostle Paul?

Les says there is not a single hint of living believers being suddenly taken off the scene anywhere in the Old Testament, the Gospels, or Acts. He calls it a Church Age phenomenon, and he explains that only Paul writes about the Church, making the rapture strictly a Pauline revelation.

Will the Church Go Through the Tribulation?

Les is emphatic that the Church will not enter the Tribulation. He bases this on the revelation of the body of Christ given only to Paul and on the fact that believers are under grace, not law, and he says those two systems cannot be mixed.

From the Teaching

Pre-millennial Return and Amillennial Opposition

Les defines pre-trib rapture and pre-millennial return of Christ, and distinguishes these from amillennialism, which denies any earthly thousand-year kingdom.

Rapture and Millennial Rule

Les teaches that after the Tribulation Christ returns to set up His kingdom, and the raptured church returns with Him to rule and reign.

Millennium as Introduction to Eternity

Les says the thousand-year reign is not a contradiction of an eternal kingdom; it is an introduction into eternity with further testing.

Where the Thousand Years Come From

Les notes that no Old Testament reference attaches a time frame to the kingdom; only Revelation gives the thousand-year period, which is why it is called the Millennium.

Church Age Duration and Removal Before Tribulation

Les says the church age has lasted over 1,900 years and the church must be removed before God resumes His program with Israel.

Rapture Is a Pauline Church Age Doctrine

Les stresses that no Old Testament, Gospel, or Acts passage hints at believers being caught away; only Paul, the one writer on the Church, reveals the rapture.

Grace Versus Law Keeps the Church Out of the Tribulation

Les argues the Church cannot enter the Tribulation because believers are not under Law but under Grace, and you cannot mix the two systems.

The Body of Christ Is Strictly Pauline

Les says he can give references proving the Church will not go through the Tribulation because the body of Christ and the mystery are revelations given only to the Apostle Paul.

Bible Verses

Revelation 20:6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

This verse is the clearest biblical statement of a thousand-year reign with Christ, giving the Millennium its name.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

This is the Apostle Paul's clearest description of living believers being caught up to meet the Lord, the event Les calls the rapture.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Paul reveals that living believers will be changed at the last trump, a mystery connected to the rapture.

Daniel 7:14: And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

This Old Testament promise shows that the kingdom was already revealed as everlasting before Revelation supplied a thousand-year time frame.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the millennium literally a thousand years?

Les Feldick takes the thousand years literally, calling the kingdom the Millennium because Revelation is the first place where the thousand-year time frame appears. He also teaches that it is only an introduction to the eternal kingdom.

Why is the rapture called a Church Age doctrine?

Les explains that the church did not exist in the Old Testament and was revealed through Paul. Since the rapture involves living believers of the Church Age being caught away, it is a doctrine that belongs to Paul's epistles.

Will the Church be present during the Tribulation?

No, according to Les. He says the Church must be removed before God resumes His dealings with Israel, and he insists that the body of Christ is a Pauline revelation rather than an Old Testament program.

What is pre-millennialism?

Les Feldick uses 'pre-millennial' to mean Christ returns before the thousand-year kingdom is established on earth, as opposed to amillennialism, which denies such an earthly kingdom.

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Source Video

Watch the Teaching: Pre-Trib vs. Amillennialism: What the Bible Really Says