PREMILLENNIALISM (2)

Key Concepts of Premillennialism

Victor M. Eskew

 

          Premillennialism is the belief that Jesus will return to earth prior to the millennium.  When He returns, He will establish a literal kingdom in the city of Jerusalem and will rule over all the nations for one thousand years.  In this article, we want to consider some of the key concepts of the doctrine of Premillennialism.

          Before we look at the key concepts of Premillennialism, however, let’s define the word “Eschatology.”  Eschatology is defined as “a branch of theology that involves end time events.”  The Scriptures definitely teach that the end of this world is coming.  In Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus told “The Parable of the Wheat and Tares.”  Once the multitudes departed, the disciples came to Him with a request:  “Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field” (Matt. 13:36).  In verse 39-40, Jesus said:  “…the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.”  In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul wrote in detail about the resurrection.  In verse 24, he opens with these words:  “Then cometh the end…”  He was talking about the end of the world when Jesus comes and the resurrection transpires.  “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order:  Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are his at his coming.  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, power” (1 Cor. 15:22-24).  Peter also declared that the heavens and earth would pass away when the day of the Lord comes.  “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:10).  There are many different schools of thought regarding eschatology.  Dispensational premillennialism is one of the schools of thought.  It has several concepts that set it apart from other schools of thought.  These concepts are very popular within many denominational and evangelical churches today.

          The first concept is an earthly kingdom.  Premillennialism proclaims that Jesus will return to establish the earthly kingdom He was not able to set up during His earthly ministry.  The capital of the kingdom will be in the city of Jerusalem.  Jesus was sit on the literal throne of David during the millennium.  The Jews will be established as the people of God once again.  The millennium will be time of absolute peace on the earth.  One of the prooftexts used to affirm this peaceful state is found in Isaiah 2:5.  “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people:  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears int pruninghooks:  nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” 

          A second concept proclaimed by premillennialist is the imminent return of Jesus Christ.  One of the constant proclamations of premillennial advocates is that “Jesus is coming soon.”  They assert that we can expect the return of Jesus Christ as any moment.  They believe that passages such as Matthew 24 reveal some of the signs that will foretell the imminent return of the Lord.  “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars:  see that ye be not troubled:  for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;  and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt. 24:4-14). 

          A third concept is the tribulation.  In Matthew 24:21, Jesus taught:  “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”  Other verses that are said to reveal the tribulation are Daniel 12:1 and Jeremiah 30:7.  The tribulation is supposed to be a seven-year period of great misery and distress in the world.  Satan will unleash horrors upon the earth.  It is said that during this time billions of individuals will die upon the earth.  At the very end of the tribulation, Jesus, we are told, will return, conquer His enemies, and establish His kingdom.

          Another important concept of premillennialism is the antichrist.  This is supposed to be a literal person who rises up in complete opposition to Jesus Christ.  However, he does so by establishing himself as God.  The text used in an attempt to prove this aspect of premillennialism is 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.  “Let no man deceive you by any means:  for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is call God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”  When Jesus returns at the close of the tribulation period, He will annihilate the antichrist in what is called “The Battle of Armageddon.”  Premillennialism teaches that the battle will take place in the valley of Megiddo which lies in the very heart of the land of Israel. 

 

“According to the futurist interpretation of Revelation, which is

our view, the Battle of Armageddon will be a real battle in the

future, near the end of the tribulation. Demonic influences will

cause the kings of the earth to gather their armies for an all

out assault on Jerusalem. The Antichrist will be leading the

charge (Revelation 16:13–16). Jesus Christ will return to earth

with the armies of heaven (Matthew 25:31; Revelation 19:14);

His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4);

He will defeat the forces of evil (Revelation 19:15–16); He will

cast the Antichrist and the false prophet into the lake of fire

(Revelation 19:20); He will bind Satan; and He will set up His

kingdom on earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–6). At Arma-

geddon the Lord Jesus Christ “treads the winepress of the fury

of the wrath of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:19), and all

things will be made right.”(What is the Battle of Armageddon? |

GotQuestions.org).

 

          Another important aspect of premillennialism is the rapture.  The rapture is an event that involves the people of God being removed from earth and caught up to be in the presence of Jesus Christ.  One of the texts used to sustain this teaching is 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.  “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:  and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:  and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”  There are different views of when the rapture is supposed to occur.  Some believe it will happen before the tribulation period.  Others think the church will be raptured at the middle of the tribulation, that is, just before what some call “the great tribulation.”  Still others believe Jesus will rapture His faithful toward the close of the tribulation.  This will be a literal event.  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, people will leave the earth.  This event will contribute to some chaos, sadness, and even death upon the earth. 

          These are some of the key concepts of Premillennialism.  In several articles to follow, we will examine these teachings from a Biblical standpoint.  Will be noting whether they are true or whether they are false.  Let us close again with the words of Jesus found in John 18:36.  “My kingdom is not of this world:  if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence.”