Purpose:
To present an overview of the 4 major evangelical views regarding the events and times surrounding the Lord’s return and the establishment of the New Heaven and Earth.
Problem:
- The Bible does not reveal a detailed list of future events
- The views are often determined by your method of interpretation
Reason:
The Bible is not meant to be a textbook of end-time teaching.
Yet the Bible does reveal certain things very clearly. We do know…
- The way of Salvation – (Act 3:19)
- The assurance of our Salvation. (1 John 5:13)
- The pattern of personal Godliness (1 Tim 2:1-3)
- The assurance of a Heavenly home for the righteous( John 14:3)
- The ultimate victory of Jesus and defeat of Satan (Rev 12:9)
- Common truths among all Evangelical of various views
- The inspiration of Scripture
- Salvation by grace
- Salvation obtained by Faith
- Deity of Christ
- The ultimate purpose to exalt God
Things to Remember:
- Godly men and women who honour Christ and live godly lives differ in their understanding of future events.
- Your view of future events does not affect your understanding of the 5 “Solas” or your integrity to the Word of God
- Since God did not “tell us”, the study of end times must be kept in proportion to the rest of scripture and to what has been clearly taught.
- Every view has strengths and weaknesses.
- Students of the Bible will acknowledge everything stated above, though we can hold to one view more certainly than another.
- Our demand is, to be honest with the Word of God and not to defend a viewpoint.
4 Main Views
4 Views of Future Events
(each view has a myriad of variations within themselves)
The views centre on the text of Revelations 20: 1-5 ESV and where the event of the Lord’s return occurs around what is described here.
- A millennial –Realized Millennial
- Post-Millennial –
- Pre-Millennial – Classical or Historic
- Pre-Millennial – Dispensational
Common Issues
Of the 4 views, 3 views are very similar.
A-millenism, Post-millennialism and Historic Pre-millennium have a number of similarities of beliefs.
All three hold equally; that the church is spiritual Israel, one advent second coming, one final judgment day, none hold that the bible teaches a 7 year tribulation period.
Dispensational pre-millennialism differsfrom the other 3 views as it includes
- a special place for the future of the nation of Israel
- a two advent second coming
- multiple final Judgments
- a “great Tribulation” lasting 7 years
The 4 Views held by Evangelicals
A Millennial – Realized Millennial
(Greek: a – “no” + millennialism) is the view in Christian eschatology which states that Christ is presently reigning through the Church and that the “1000 years” of Revelation 20:1-6 is a metaphorical reference to the present church age which will culminate in Christ’s return.
Arguments:
That the millennium only appears in one text of the Bible (Rev 20:1-6)
The defeat of Satan mentioned in Rev 20 is the same defeat of Satan that occurred on the Cross, therefore this is a present time being described. (Matthew 12:28,29; Luke 10:18)
The binding of Satan that he “should deceive the nations no more” (Rev.20:3) occurred at Pentecost when the gospel went out to all nations, not just the Jews.
On verse 4 of Revelations 20 the “souls” and “new life” described has occurred in Heaven throughout the church age.
The phrase “first resurrection” refers to our physical death on earth and our going to Heaven.
Scripture only teaches one general resurrection. (John 5:28,29; Acts 24:15; Daniel 12;2)
There is no purpose for a 1000 year period after the return of Christ.
Amillennialist theologians
Augustine
Louis Berkhof
Anthony Hoekema
John Murray
Geerhardus Vos
Greg Beale
J. I. Packer
Post-Millennial
The post-millennialist believes that the millennium is an era (not necessarily a literal thousand years) during which Christ will reign over the earth, not from a literal and earthly throne, but through the gradual increase of the Gospel and its power to change lives. After this gradual Christianization of the world, Christ will return and immediately usher the church into their eternal state after judging the wicked.
Arguments:
The great commission of Matthew 28:18-20 promised that because “all authority” has been given, then the effects of the gospel will spread throughout the world.
Parables teach that the effects of the gospel will eventually spread throughout the world. Parable of the Mustard Seed – Matthew 13:31,32; Parable of the Leaven – Matthew 13:33
The world is now more Christianized than ever before. Never has there been so many missionaries, or more Christian radio & TV, and the gospel is spreading in countries where persecution is great.
(Dan 2:35 NIV) …But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
Note Paul’s words to the church of the Colossians “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” (Col 1:6 NIV)
Jesus promised “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Mat 16:18)
Postmillennial Theologians
Kenneth G Talbot
Charles Hodge
Loraine Boettner
R.C. Sproul
Augustus H. Strong
Historic (Classical) Pre-millennialism (chiliasm)
This was known as chiliasm (Greek for “thousand years”) and was the only pre-millennial view prior to the 1800s. It holds to the same beliefs as the prior views with those things stated above. It does, however, hold to a literal 1000 year period on earth with Christ in glorified bodies after the return of Christ. It rejects a 7-year tribulation teaching from Daniel 9, yet some hold that the “Great tribulation” of Matthew 24 is a future event of the unknown period prior to the Lord’s second coming. Others hold that it refers to the greatest tribulation that the Jews experienced, being the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
Argument:
Daniel 9 teaches that after 3 1/2 years the anointed one will make an end to sacrifice. This is the time of the Lord’s ministry prior to the veil of the temple being split. Therefore, no teaching of 7-year tribulation.
The “you shall see” statements to Peter, James & John in Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13 indicated that many of the end times “signs” were seen in their lifetime.
Parable of the widows (Matthew 25:1-13) indicate a meeting of the Messiah on His return and escorting Him back to earth to begin the Millennium
The word “Then” beginning Revelations 20 indicates a chronological order event following Revelations 19 which describes the church age.
A literal understanding of Revelations 20:1-6
Historic Premillennial Theologians
Dean Alford
Dr S. H. Kellogg
George E. Ladd
Charles Spurgeon
Francis Schaeffer
Dispensational Premillennialism
Though the pre-millennial view (chiliasm) finds its root in teaching from the first century (Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Polycarp ) what is now call dispensational theology is traced back to the Plymouth Brethren movement under the leadership of John Darby who began to develop his seven-age dispensationalism, by 1835 he added the teaching of the “secret rapture,” and had gradually added dispensations up to 1838.
Dispensationalism later popularized by the publishing of the study Bible of C. I. Scofield and the establishment of Dallas Theological Seminary by Lewis Sperry Chafer. It is the foundation of what is known in eschatological studies as “pre-tribulation premillennialism” and involves the division of history into (usually) seven distinct periods of time known as “dispensations”.
Argument:
Israel must be re-gathered to their land as promised by God.
Daniel’s seventieth-week prophecy specifically refers to the purging of the nation Israel, and not the Church. These were the clear words spoken to Daniel. The church doesn’t need purging from sin. It is already clean.
Some of the warnings in Matthew 24 are directed at the Jews, and not the Church (since God will be finishing His plan with national Israel)
A pre-tribulation rapture – Israel is seen in Daniel as the key player during the tribulation, not the Church. God removes the elect when he brings judgment on the world. i.e. Noah, John 14, 1 Thess 4:16.
A literal 1000 year millennial kingdom, where Christ returns before the millennium starts. Revelation 20 doesn’t give us a reason to interpret the 1000 years as symbolic. Also, Dispensationalists see the promised literal reign of Christ in the OT. Note the chronological order of events between Revelation 19-21.
Dispensational Premillennial Theologians
· John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)
· C.I. Scofield (1843-1921)
· Lewis Sperry Chafer
· Charles Ryrie
· Dwight Pentecost
· John Walvoord
Conclusions
All Four views have strengths and weaknesses.
All four views are held by godly people who are diligent Bible students.
No one knows for sure how or when the Lord will return.
Our job is not to prove a view, but to study the Word in context and faithfully to the theme and message of the writer.
Our primary mission as disciples is to glorify God, be His ambassadors, share the gospel and live holy lives, and therefore, this must be our first responsibility of living and teaching.
Jesus will return on a day only the Father knows.
A true student of the Word of God knows, and could, if requested defend and teach any view, even if he holds his biblical convictions to one particular view.