Introduction
(by Bob Pulliam)
What will happen when Jesus comes again? The Bible tells us. Unfortunately, like so many other areas of scripture, fanciful interpretations have superceded the word of God. The past has seen some of these try to set a date for the end of time and beginning of Jesus’ kingdom on earth (e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses). Their failure in this has illustrated the folly in thinking that God’s word has a special code for understanding the end times, and only certain men have deciphered it.
This study area has two purposes.
1) Confront a false doctrine that is one of the most popular doctrines in the world.
2) Uphold the truth of God’s word concerning Jesus’ second coming.
You may ask, "Why is this doctrine one of the most popular if it is false?" Why is evolution taught in our public school system as fact? It is the only state sanctioned religious doctrine in our country, and it is patently false! The answer to both of these questions is, "If you say it often enough, and loud enough, it becomes fact in people’s minds". But there is an additional factor here. The false doctrine of which we write has an appeal to people’s love of mysteries. People love to feel like they're in the midst of intrigue, watching as events unfold, feeling that they are perceiving something that many others can’t perceive. This doctrine gives them that feeling on a grand scale.
The False Doctrine...
The false doctrine to which I refer is sometimes called Premillennialism. It cannot be denied that it’s a big word for a very involved and difficult doctrine. If the word isn’t difficult enough, it has many different shades and degrees taught by all kinds of churches. It would be impossible for us to define every nuance of this doctrine as taught by various churches. It has, for many years, been accepted in varying degrees by Baptists, Pentecostals, Adventists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. With the popularity of books like The Late Great Planet Earth, and There’s a New World Coming (both by Hal Lindsey), you will find adherents in a lot of other churches as well.
The basics of this false doctrine actually aren’t that difficult to understand and follow. When you go beyond the basics to some of the details, things begin to get a little involved. But until you do that, the word itself is the most involved part of the doctrine. The word Premillennialism can be broken down like this: Pre (before) - mille (1,000) - anum (year) specifying that we live in the time before the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ on earth. The Amillennialist denies that there is a 1,000 year period during which Jesus will reign. The Postmillennialist believes that we are living after the 1,000 year reign of Jesus.
The most popular aspect of this doctrine is called Dispensationalism. This is primarily the belief that God has more than one plan at work, the first and most important being the redemption of the world from corruption (during a 1,000 year reign), and secondly the salvation of mankind from sin. The first is to be accomplished in the nation of Israel, and it is believed that Israel is still to become a mighty nation to fulfill promises never fulfilled (see Covenant With Abraham). The second is accomplished in the church, and is believed to be subservient to the first plan. In other words, the church was just an after thought of God, but physical Israel is what God has always had in mind.
Basics Tenets of Premillennialism...
No one who believes the Bible contends that Jesus will not return for His own. The difference only arises when we discuss what is to occur at Jesus’ second coming. Premillennialism teaches that when Jesus comes again, He will reign on earth in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. During that time all will be at peace on the earth... No wars, famines, deaths, crime, etc... It also teaches that there are to be two resurrections, one before and one after the 1,000 year reign. The saints will be rewarded before the 1,000 year reign at the first resurrection. The wicked will be judged afterwards at the second resurrection. Some opponents of this doctrine count from three to five resurrections in it. Although they have a valid point, I will simply discuss these from the standpoint of the two general resurrection events.
Please keep in mind, that various religions have funny quirks in their views. These are usually demanded by other doctrinal positions their religion takes. As I’ve noted, we cannot cover them all. What we want to do is, for the most part, stick to the basics. What evidence of this doctrine is there in scripture? Are the proof texts valid? If not, what does the Bible teach about the second coming of Jesus?
Conclusion...
If you adhere to the doctrine of Premillennialism, I hope that you will study this material through. If nothing else, view it as a challenge to strengthen your faith. I will be citing a great deal of Bible information, so this is not just my preference on Jesus’ return. My reason for taking my position is that I have found it to be true to God’s word. Such is my longing for all that I follow and teach. I hope that this is your attitude as well.