CEMCQ2nd hour Adult Christian Ed

The study of The Last Thing

Pre-Millennialism (Part I)Pre-Millennialism (Part I)

•Christ will physically return again;He will be King and Lord of all

•There will be the final judgment of God upon His return

•There is eternal punishment for the wicked, but eternal life/blessing for those belong to Him

Pre -1111I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepterHe will rule them with an iron scepter."[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this Name written: KING KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. - Rev. 19:11-16

    1And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand yearsa thousand years. 3He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.     4I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.thousand years. - Rev. 20:1-6

Millennium

Pre-Millennialism

•Christ will return before the millennium

•Condition of the world will grow worse that leads into Great tribulation, then Christ will return that leads into Millennial reign of Christ.

•Resurrection and Judgment follows, then to Eternity

• Christ will actually reign over the earth as King, and Israel will experience the fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.

•Taking scripture more literally [ Rev. 20:1-4 ]

Key differences between Historical and Dispensational Premillennialism

Historical

•Rapture is post-tribulational (with no specific length of duration) - it holds that the church will be protected "in the tribulation“.

•Christ’s second coming is in one stage.

• This view is easily seen in the early church fathers. It was formerly known as "Chiliasm,“ after the Greek word for 1,000.

•It denies the essential Jewish nature of the millennium.

•eschatology forms its theology from the explicit teachings of the NT (church are the true Israel) - though it confesses that it cannot be sure how the OT prophecies of the end are to be fulfilled

•the nature of the kingdom is in fact the culmination of the church age. Although Israel will experience a national repentance and salvation through Christ

Dispensational

•Rapture is pre-tribulational (with specific length of 7 yrs)– it holds that the church will be "taken out of the tribulation”

•More so, Christ's second coming would occur in two stages (rapture & return).

•Seen much later in Church history (was popularized and propagated in Spurgeon's era by the work of the Plymouth Brethren. Several of their key leaders included John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) and William Kelly (1821-1906).

•forms its eschatology by a literal interpretation of the OT (a fulfillment of all the OT prophecies given to Israel), and see how NT fits it.

•It emphasizes Israel’s place & position in Millennium Kingdom.

The essential chronology between the Dispensational and Historic schools is the same with the exception of the timing of the rapture.

Christ Returns at the end of Tribulation before the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. The Millennial Kingdom is a literal 1,000 year earthly and physical reign of Christ over the world with the Church being the focal point of His reign. The Jews will be converted nationally and restored to their land. They will occupy a special place in a national sense, but spiritually will be part of the Church. The Two Resurrections of Rev 20 are separated by the 1,000 year kingdom. At the end of the 1,000 years Satan will be released from his bondage, lead a rebellion of those who have been born during the kingdom era, but are yet unsaved. Christ will destroy the rebellion, and after the judgments the Church will enter the eternal state of heaven.

Essential Features of Historic Premillennialism

Essential Features of Dispensational Premillennialism

The Rapture of the Church before Daniel's 70th Week (commonly known as the "Tribulation Period") Christ Returns at the end of the Tribulation before the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. he Millennial Kingdom is a literal 1,000 year earthly and physical reign of Christ over the world with Israel in the leading position. The kingdom is a fulfillment of the OT promises to Israel. The Two Resurrections of Rev 20 are separated by the 1,000 year kingdom. At the end of the 1,000 years Satan will be released from his bondage, lead a rebellion of those who have been born during the kingdom era, but are yet unsaved. Christ will destroy the rebellion, and after the judgments Israel and the Church will enter the eternal state of heaven.

Historical Premillennialism

Dispensational Premillennialism

Define and understand the terms:Revelation

(, apocalypse) = unveiling “…do not seal up the words of the prophecy of

this book, because the time is near.” -Rev. 22:10

Israel

specific of Abraham/Isaac/Jacob - Rom 9, 10, 11 – specific (Romans 9:6-13)

Church

NT saints (believers in Christ) Christ and the church as a “profound mystery” (Christ and His bride) -Eph. 5:32

Imminent return of Christ

at any moment - for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. - I Th 5:2

Define and understand the terms:Rapture

caught up - and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air –I Th 4:17

Great Tribulation

Greatest distress through God’s outpouring wrath -For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again…”. - Matt 24:21

Return of Christ

Christ second coming - “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True… and His name is the Word of God. - Rev. 19:11-18

Millennium

1000 years -they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. - Rev. 20:1-6

Plain literal interruption of the Scripture What’s meant to be literal we need to interpret as literal, what meant to be allegory or symbolic, we need to do like wise. We need to read within the context

Plain literal interruption of the Scripture

In general, it is literal when:

1. It clearly stated so, it’s stating a fact, a teaching

2. It involves things possible (Is. 65:25 – mentioned the Wolf & Lamb lie down together… maybe not necessary at this moment where the world is still under the curse of Sin, but in a state where sin is removed, that’s possible, and there’s no reason to see that as symbolic.)

3. Many details are given that are realistic – When we read through the old testament (e.g. Gen 46:8-25), and read many listing of people and places, we accept them as historical facts, and there’s no reason to doubt their historical validity, and so as with prophecy, if many specific details (e.g. Rev. 7:4-8; 11:3-12; Ezk. 40-48), they will need to be accepted as literal.

4. Understand author’s intent when reading through the context, you realize author’s intent was factual.

 

It is allegorical when

1. The immediate context said so (e.g. Daniel 7:17)

2. It is truly impossible in reality (Rev. 12:1; 17:3; Ezk 8:3)

3. Within the context you understand the author is using a figure of speech, a parable, an illustration. Directly or indirectly, after reading through the whole passage, you learn of the author’s intent was allegorical.

Exercises

As an example, let’s look at Daniel 7

Now compare two text: Numbers 26 & Revelations 7:4-9

What are some things you notice??

7 Churches in Revelations 2-3

Remains of Ephesus

Remains of Smyrna

Remains of Pergamos

Remains of Thyatira

Remains of Sardis

Remains of Philadelphia

Remains of Laodicea

The 7 ChurchesFrom reading this and putting it into context, it seems clear that scripture is to convey the messages to the 7 actual historical churches as well as representative.

7 letters to 7 actual historical churches, with the specific warning and praises

It also represents churches in general at a giving period of time.

It also represents churches in general, the struggles they faces through out church history.

And, could this also be prophetic? To represent 7 great periods throughout the church history??

EPHESUS- Rev 2:1-7 (Apostolic Church)“forsaken your first love” End of Apostolic period … to ~100 AD _____________________________________

SMYRNA - Rev 2:8-11 (Persecuted Church)“you will suffer persecutions”Under Imperial Persecutions … to ~312 AD _____________________________________

PERGAMUM -Rev 2:12-17 (State Church)“hold to the teaching of Balaam”Constantine to rise of Papacy. Mixed with world … to ~590 AD_____________________________________

THYATIRA -Rev 2:18-29 (Papal Church)“You tolerate that woman Jezebel”Rise of Papacy to Reformation… to ~1517 AD

SARDIS -Rev 3:1-6 (Reformed Church)“Strengthen what remains and is about to die”Reformation to Revival Movement … to ~1790 AD___________________________________

PHILADELPHIA -Rev 3:7-13 (Missionary Church)“an open door that no one can shut”Missionary Movement… to ~1900 AD___________________________________

LAODICEA -Rev 3:14-21 (Apostate Church)“you are lukewarm”Era of Modernism, Secularism, Idealism From ~1900 AD to ???

Possible prophetic model

Message for us from the letters to the 7 churches

It’s okay to give it considerations of the possibility of being prophetic so as long as we can learn from it. (One day we’ll know for sure when we see Him)

Not to get so caught up with it, to begin predicting dates

What praises are there? Let them challenge us to live accordingly

What warnings are there? Let them help us to learn from their mistakes and to avoid those pit falls

Most importantly, let us continue to keep our eyes constantly upon the Lord, and continue awaiting for His imminent return.