Well, that's what
Marcion, the Heretic (died. ca. 150), did, basically -
made up his own Bible. Are you surprised to find out he rejected an earthly kingdom, because it was prophesied in the OT Scritures? Sound familiar?
Marcion, the Heretic - The original hero of a-millennialism.
Origen (185- 254), however,
is the allegorist. Although Origen was extremely concerned as to the literal and historical meanings, it was to have a sound base for the allegories, he championed, which contained the "real meaning" beyond the text. Origen came to believe and teach that Gentile Christianity had replaced the Jews as God's chosen people. Origen thought that God was finished with the Jews, and had turned all His promises to His chosen people over to the church. Does this, perchance, sound familiar, as well? Origen was influenced to some degree by Marcion's works, and adopted his rejection of a literal earthly kingdom, by allegorizing the references to it found in the Scripture.
Origen - The second hero of a-millennialism. Here he did the Jews in and tossed them away. (familiar?)
Augustine (354- 430) who originally held to a millenial position, basically consistent with such as
Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Justin, changed his own mind, and adopted Origen's replacement theology. With that, there was no reason to believe in a literal physical return of the Lord to set up a physical kingdom. The church is the "new kingdom" and this "spiritual millenial reign" started with the Lord on this earth. (His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection were just a little "bump in the road, I guess.) And it has now been going on for almost two thousand years. Any of this still sounding familiar?? (So much for a 1000 year reign prophesied by John in the Revelation, which was given Him by God, and confirmed by the testimony of Jesus Christ, I guess, as well. Obviously, "1000 years" really mean almost 2000 years and counting!)
Augustine - The third great hero of a-millennialism.
Let us sum this brief history up, a bit. The speculations and heresies of Marcion became the basis for the allegories of Origen, who developed an allegorical system. And the allegorical system of Origen formed the basis for a system of theology developed by Augustine.
And those who see that Scripture teaches a future literal kingdom, centered on Israel, with Jesus Christ, Himself, sitting on the throne of David, and ruling all nations with a rod of iron, from Scripture are supposedly the ones "out in left field"? Uhh... What did I miss here?
FTR, someone explain to me exactly how did the "Can a believer sin?" thread wind up into the discussion of the Millennium, while the "How to defeat the ME (Millennial Exclusion) heresy" thread wound up into the discussion of "Can a believer sin?" ??
AND at the same time, no less? It seems to me that two trains magically jumped tracks to wind up rolling down the other, without even one car so much as getting off track. Now that physically happening would be a miracle!
Usually, it is more like this, from what I have been able to glean.
Origen must of been the engineer on one of the trains and Justin on the other.
Ed