Popular Beliefs: Premillennialism, Part I: Introduction and Issues I. Introduction A. Let us spend some time looking at popular beliefs of our day 1. If we are going to be able to preach the Word to others, we must know what they may believe! 2. Even if a person is not religious, s/he may have a view of Christianity based on denominational doctrines 3. We must be prepared to make a defense of the truth (1 Peter 3:15) B. This is especially true with the belief system known as premillennialism 1. Wildly popular in the modern religious world 2. The publication of the Left Behind series, the "easy" answers provided, and the ability to "see prophecy fulfilled before your eyes" have led to millions of believers 3. We all know people who believe in this system C. The belief system is complicated, a veritable patchwork quilt of various passages "stitched" together to make a whole 1. We will actually get down to looking at these various passages from the Bible in the upcoming two weeks 2. Before we can do so, however, we must get a handle on general issues regarding premillennialism 3. What is premillennialism? 4. Where does it come from? 5. What does it mean to believe in prophecy "literally"? 6. How does premillennialism compare to the Bible's view of God's Kingdom? 7. What does the Bible teach about the "end times"? D. Let us begin our analysis of premillennialism II. Premillennialism: Definition A. "Premillennialism", literally, "before the millennium," or "before 1000 years" B. Premillennialism, therefore, is the belief that we are presently living before a period of 1000 years, and that period is believed to be the time of Christ's reign on earth (Revelation 20:4) C. Premillennialism is not just this belief, but generally involves a whole system of ideas based on passages throughout the Bible 1. The precise system varies by denomination; general trends, however, can be identified 2. Most believe in some kind of "rapture," when God takes into the sky all believers, leaving everyone else on earth, and such is justified with 1 Thessalonians 4:17 3. Most also believe in a seven-year "tribulation," the time during which the plagues of Revelation beset the earth, and the belief that various Scriptures in Daniel 9 and Matthew 24 are fulfilled 4. After these events is believed to be Christ's return to reign 1000 years, and then the final Judgment, based on Revelation 20-21 D. Over the next few weeks we will examine these views in greater depth and how they compare with the sum of God's message in the Scriptures E. Now that we have seen what premillennialism is, let us consider its origins III. Premillennialism: Origins A. In the early years after the death of the Apostles, there does seem to be a few who believed that Christ would return and reign a thousand years B. On the other hand, the system as previously described is not seen until John Darby and the Plymouth Brethren in the 1820s 1. There was a wave of interest in the view, and the majority of denominations founded in the nineteenth century (Plymouth Brethren, Mormonism, Christian Science, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses) in some way accepted it 2. It revived with a vengeance in the 1960s and beyond, and is now a major force, particularly in Evangelical denominations C. Despite its recent origin, premillennialism is widespread D. Let us now spend some time investigating some general issues in regards to premillennialism IV. The Nature of Prophecy and Literal Language A. One of the most stressed points of premillennialists is the idea that they believe in prophecy in a "literal" fashion 1. They try to hold the ground that their belief is "more literal" than everyone else's 2. Is this actually true? Is it supposed to be true? B. While it is true that one of the rules of interpreting the Bible is to interpret literally unless there is a compelling reason otherwise, many times the texts indicate that there is a compelling reason otherwise! C. Furthermore, premillennialists do not exactly interpret literally, either! 1. Premillennialists do not believe that a literal beasts will come, as Daniel 8 suggests 2. Nor do they believe in a literal dragon or literal whore of Babylon, as seen in Revelation 3. They recognize that visions all require some level of figurative language and therefore some level of non-literal interpretation! D. The issue with interpretation of prophecy, then, is the level of literalism E. Is it legitimate to interpret prophecy as literally as possible? 1. Perhaps, and it is in many instances, especially with the coming of Christ 2. On the other hand, this is not the only rule of Bible interpretation! F. We must also respect the sum of God's Word as truth (Psalm 119:160) 1. Consider 2 Peter 3:8-10 2. Premillennialists do not consider the "day of the Lord" to be a literal 24-hour day, but a period of time that of course would include His 1000 year reign! 3. Such is not a "literal" interpretation of this passage! G. The claim of premillennialists, therefore, is false 1. They are not interpreting the Bible literally, but picking and choosing what they consider to be "figurative" and "literal" 2. They really do not even interpret passages in Revelation and other places strictly literally, and the issue is not "literal" vs. "figurative" as much as the "level" of literalness or figurativeness 3. Their choices, likewise, are not consistent with sound exegesis! H. Having seen that premillennialism is not strictly a "literal" interpretation of the Bible, let us consider the difficulties of premillennialism in terms of looking at Christ and His Kingdom V. Christ and His Kingdom A. Many people wonder what the big deal is regarding looking at the end times in terms of disagreement 1. Some wonder why we cannot just "agree to disagree" 2. Much of the reason is because premillennialism includes ideas and doctrines regarding Christ and His Kingdom that are not only inconsistent with God's revealed truth, but would minimize the great things that God has done and perverts His plan for mankind B. Premillennialism takes a very "Jewish" view of the prophecies regarding the Messiah, minimizes the cross and the church, and misunderstands the Kingdom C. The "Jewish" View of the Messiah 1. When we read the Scriptures, we see very clearly that Jesus of Nazareth was rejected by most Jews, mostly because He did not fit their view of the Messiah 2. Matthew 20:20-21 and Acts 1:6 indicate how even Jesus' own disciples expected Him to fulfill the Jewish hope for the Messiah: the Branch of David who would rule on His throne and defeat the Romans and restore the Kingdom of Israel (cf. Isaiah 9, 11) 3. If such was the view of the disciples, how much more did the rest of the Jews believe it? 4. Despite the fact that Jesus constantly taught against such a belief, and constantly taught how His Kingdom would be a spiritual one (cf. Matthew 20:22-28, Acts 1:7-8, John 18:36), premillennialism has resurrected the "Jewish" view of the Messiah, believing that all such prophecies referred to Jesus' second, not first, advent 5. Thus, the view that the Jewish temple must be rebuilt, that the Jews must possess Israel, that the land of Israel is central in the return of Christ, etc. D. Minimizing the Cross and the Church 1. Because premillennialism sees these prophecies as not yet being fulfilled, by necessity the belief minimizes the first advent and the church that sprung from it 2. In terms of Jesus' death, there is a spectrum of belief a. on one fringe, some premillennialists even dare to assert that Jesus' crucifixion was a mistake, and that the church and everything since has been a hasty afterthought b. on the other end, other premillennialists would say that Jesus' death and resurrection were indeed necessary and planned, but that the second coming of Christ was still the main prophetic event c. there are also a multiplicity of views in between! 3. Furthermore, the place of the church is also minimized! a. some premillennialists believe that the prophets "did not see" the church! b. others see the history of the church in terms of the churches of Revelation c. regardless, all views look at the church as a means to the end, not the end itself 4. All of these views are inconsistent with the picture of Christ's first advent and the church as presented in the Bible, as we shall see E. Misunderstanding the Kingdom 1. Finally, premillennialists posit that the Kingdom of Christ is to come 2. It is seen in physical terms, just as the Jews would have had it 3. Such is likewise inconsistent with the picture that God portrays F. The Bible on Christ and His Kingdom 1. Ephesians 3:11: God has an "eternal purpose" realized in Jesus; this is in stark contrast with the view that the crucifixion was some form of a "mistake" 2. John 6:15: If Jesus' purpose was to be an earthly king, why would He have resisted it? 3. John 4:24, John 18:36: the Kingdom is spiritual, not physical! 4. Colossians 1:13: the Kingdom is here and the Kingdom is now! 5. Matthew 3:12, 4:17, 4:23, 6:33, 10:7, 12:28, 13:11, 13:19, etc.: Jesus speaks of the Kingdom as imminent! 6. Acts 1:3, 8:12, 14:22, 19:8, 20:25, 14:17, 1 Corinthians 15:24, Colossians 4:11, Hebrews 12:28: the Apostles teach and preach the Kingdom as a present matter G. The truth, then, is manifest 1. The first coming of Christ was of the greatest importance, the climax of history, and brought about the inauguration of His Kingdom 2. His Kingdom is now here since He is the authority (Matthew 28:18), and since the church is His Body (Colossians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 12, etc.), the church is the manifestation of His Kingdom on earth-- spiritual, not physical (John 18:36) H. The premillennial view, then, is just as wrong as the Jewish view before them-- the prophets indeed saw the first coming of Christ and the church, and can be understood in those terms! I. Having seen such, what is God's truth about the "end times"? VI. God's Truth on the End Times A. It is not enough for us to show how premillennialism is wrong; what is the truth about the end of time? B. First of all, we are living in the end times (cf. Hebrews 1:2), and have since Pentecost C. Using the proper rules of Bible interpretation, we see that passages like Acts 17:30-31 and 2 Peter 3:9-11 ought to be interpreted more literally and not visions like Daniel and Revelation D. The New Testament consistently witnesses to Christ's return as being sudden, without much specific warning, and that such will be the end of the physical realm 1. Matthew 25:1-13: parable of virgins designed to teach to "watch, for you do not know the day or the hour" 2. Matthew 24:43-44, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11: Lord's return as a "thief in the night," same message of preparedness 3. Revelation 16:15 even says as much! 4. Acts 17:30-31, Hebrews 9:27-28: the Lord's return will be final and will deal with Judgment 5. 2 Peter 3:9-11: return will lead to the end of all physical matter E. This is perhaps the most dangerous part of premillennialism-- belief in another chance 1. People will have chances in the "tribulation" or in the 1000 year reign to make themselves right, according to premillennialists... 2. ...yet the witness of God is consistent: the moment will be quick, and there will be no more chances! 3. The Scriptures are very clear about Christ's return-- it will be fast, it will catch people off guard, you must not be caught off guard! F. Let us hold to God's truth regarding the end and always be prepared for the return of Christ! G. Songbook/invitation H. Be not deceived: Christ is returning, and it may be at any moment! I. If you have never obeyed Christ, come to Him now and be ready! J. If you are a Christian and struggling, let us help you be prepared! K. If you simply need encouragement, we're here for that! L. Whatever you need, let us help; come to the front as we stand and sing