© 2007 F. O’Donoghue
As a young Christian, I was somewhat intimidated by the subject of eschatology, which I knew little about apart from strange teachings on the rapture, the antichrist, the beast etc. These were mystical teachings to me, but as I searched further, I became aware that eschatology had it’s roots in core doctrine, and that to understand these at all, I would need to the study the return of Christ, the resurrection, the tribulation, the millennium, death, the final judgment, and the eternal state of mankind.
Much of what I had been taught in the nominal church seemed to contradict the straightforward teaching of scripture, and this led me to investigate the teachings within eschatology for myself, putting aside my preconceptions.
I soon found that there are enormously diverse views on all of the doctrines that comprise eschatology. For example, there are different views on the millennium, which have a determining impact on how one understands the return of Christ, the resurrection, the tribulation, the temple, and the last judgment. The differing eschatalogical standpoints consist primarily of the Pre-millennial , Post-millennial, and Amillennial views (though there are others such as Preterism and it’s sub-divisions). These three main schools of thought break down further into distinct variations which I will briefly outline in this paper.
In fairness, it ought to be mentioned that despite the vast differences between these three views, there are key areas of agreement between each group. i.e;
1. Each group acknowledges that the opposing views are held by respected, conservative Bible scholars.
2. Each group believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that He is God; and that He died as the atoning sacrifice for the sin of mankind.
3. Each group believes that the opposing views stem from poor interpretation of scripture rather than from a lack of respect for the authority of scripture.
4. Each group accepts that all scripture is the inspired word of God; therefore believes their view to be based on proper Biblical teaching.
The overview of the differing eschatalogical viewpoints is as follows:
Broad Premillennialism
Broad Premillennialism generally ascribes to the following concepts:
1. The state of mankind and the world is increasingly deteriorating, and will continue to do so until Christ comes and personally establishes His Kingdom on earth.
2. Christ will establish a kingdom [prophesied in the Old Testament] which was not fulfilled during His first coming.
3. A personal, visible reign of Christ will be established on earth for a thousand years prior to the end of the world.
4. We are rapidly approaching the end of the church age, and Christ may return at any time.
5. All living Jews will be restored to the physical land of Israel prior to and during a future tribulation period
6. Both resurrections mentioned in Revelation 20: 1-10 are physical, bodily resurrections.
7. The righteous dead will be resurrected in what is called the first resurrection at Christ’s coming.
8. The resurrected righteous and the living ‘transformed righteous’ will be raptured up to literally meet Christ in the air. Differening views place this event before, during, and after ‘the great tribulation’.
9. A judgment of the righteous then takes place.
10. After the tribulation, Christ will destroy the man of sin, the beast, or antichrist, in the Battle of Armageddon.
11. At this time there will be a conversion of National Israel.
12. A judgment of the nations (Matt. 25: 31-46), will precede the millennium.
13. Christ then establishes His kingdom and sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem.
14. Then the millennium begins, and Satan is be bound and cast into the abyss during this 1000 years.
15. During this millennium, Christ rules the whole world from David’s Throne in Jerusalem for a thousand years in righteousness, peace, and prosperity.
16. During this millennium, God removes the curse that is now upon the world because of Adam’s sin, and will cause the land to become extremely productive. He also causes the animals (currently ferocious) to be changed so as to live in peace with each other and mankind. Human life is prolonged, but death and sickness are not completely done away with.
17. Those born during this thousand year reign who are not converted, are ruled by Christ with a ‘rod of iron’.
18. Toward the end of the thousand year reign, Satan is be loosed for a “little season” and deceives the nations in a manner which enables him to gather the unregenerate together to make war against the saints. This battle is known as the Battle of Gog and Magog.
19. During this battle (Gog and Magog), Christ defeats Satan and his followers (including the wicked), and subsequently casts them into the lake of fire for all eternity.
20. The final state of the redeemed is ushered in immediately after the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20: 11-15).
Historical Premillennialism
Historical premillennialism, originally called chiliasm, has several distinctive characteristics in addition to the general beliefs of premillennialism.
1. This view holds that a worldwide proclamation of a single antichrist figure and a Great Tribulation period before Christ returns. Christ’s coming is visible and will be accompanied by the resurrection and rapture after which the believers will escort Christ back to earth.
2. This view sees Israel saved and restored alongside the gentiles as one people of God which is the body of Christ. This view does not recognise a separate purpose for physical Israel and the church. During the tribulation, the Jews preach a gospel of grace (not a separate gospel of the kingdom).
3. At this time, the church has replaced national Israel as God’s elect, and will be on earth during the tribulation period.
Historical Premillennialism sets no definitive timeframe for the tribulation period, or millennium, and is vague with regard to which Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled during the millennium. Some Historical Premillennialists hold that the earthly millennial kingdom is primarily Jewish, though Gentile believers are present in a subordinate place. Others hold that it the kingdom is comprised of martyrs (Jewish & Gentile). Some hold that during the millennium, those with physical bodies will be subject to death, though others claim that only unbelievers will be subject to physical death.
The Historical Premillennial view is ambiguous regarding the coexistence of those with spiritual bodies and those with physical bodies. It is also vague on the subject of the restored temple, and animal sacrifices.
Dispensational Premillennialism
Dispensational Premillennialism is a system of interpretation that came into existence in the 16th Century as a counter-reformation; administered by the Roman Catholic Church. In 1585, a Jesuit priest named Francisco Ribera propounded a theory that the Pope could not be the Antichrist or Man of Sin, because it was a future event. Ribera is responsible for inserting the gap (the gap theory) into the Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Dan 9:24-27). Ribera was later aided by Cardinal Robert Bellarmine and Luis de Alcazar; also Jesuits. Ribera’s theory was expanded through the efforts of such men as John N. Darby of the Plymouth Brethren, and C. I. Scofield of the Presbyterians.
Tenets of Dispensational Premillennialism:
1. Dispensationalism contends that the Bible must be interpreted literally wherever possible, including the apocalyptic, poetic, and prophetic scriptures. This is based on the belief that a non-literal interpretation undermines the claim of innerancy; in other words, “because the bible is literally the truth, all truth is literal. This is commonly called literalism, and is seen by opponents as a straw man fallacy.
2. Dispensationalism contends that the historical and prophetic passages of the Bible must be interpreted in the same manner. In other words, all prophecy has either been fulfilled, or is yet to be fulfilled in the literal/physical sense; i.e. all of the Old Testament promises were made to national/physical Israel (never to the New Testament saints), and must be fulfilled in physical Israel.
3. Dispensationalism contends that there is a clear distinction between physical Israel and the church. According to this view, God has an unconditional covenant with national Israel who remain His chosen people forever, and that they must receive every promise that was made to them unconditionally.
4. Dispensationalism contends that God’s purpose for the church will be fulfilled in heaven, while His purpose for physical Israel will be fulfilled on the earth. This view rejects the teaching that spiritual Israel is the continuation of physical Israel, and that Old Testament promises can find fulfillment in New Testament believers.
5. Dispensationalism contends that the establishing of the church was unforeseen in Old Testament prophecy. This view supports the idea that the church came about through the Jewish rejection of the kingdom offered to them, and the subsequent crucifixion of Christ. At this point, God’s prophetic time-clock ceased for the advent and duration of the unpredicted church age.
6. Dispensationalism contends that sixty-nine weeks of Daniel’s vision were fulfilled before the crucifixion the Messiah, and at that time the prophetic clock ceased until the rapture of the church it will start again and God will once again continue His covenant with physical Israel. The period following the pretribulation rapture is termed ‘Daniel’s 70th week’ , and has nothing to do with the church.
7. Dispensationalism contends that a distinction must be made between the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ and the ‘Kingdom of God.’ According to this view, the Kingdom of Heaven is the Messianic kingdom that was offered to the Jews at the first coming of Christ, therefore it had to be postponed when it was rejected. This Kingdom is a present reality, and includes saved Jews and Gentiles, but it is not to be confused with the kingdom predicted in the Old Testament.
8. Dispensationalism contends that they (in contrast with Historic Premillennialists), advocate the imminent return of Christ.
9. Dispensationalism contends that during the kigdom age (the millennium), worship will be re-instated at the rebuilt temple in the city of Jerusalem, and animal sacrifices will be reinstituted, not as propitiatory offerings, but as memorial offerings (Ezek. 40-48).
10. Dispensationalism contends for a three-stage Second Coming of Christ; one before the tribulation period, one at the end of the tribulation period, and one following the millennium to destroy the world with fire. This view holds to at least three resurrections; [a.] the resurrection of the righteous prior to the tribulation; [b.] the resurrection of the righteous who die during the millennium, [c.] the resurrection of the unrighteous dead after the millennium. This view also holds to at least six judgments; [a.] the judgment of saints following a pretribulation rapture; [b.] the judgment of Israel; [c.] the judgment of living Gentile nations prior to the millennium; [d.] the judgment of the saints who die during the tribulation period or the millennium; [e.]Christ’s judgment of the sins of believers on the cross; [f.] the believer’s judgment of self.
11. Dispensationalism contends that the second coming of Christ will not be a single event, but is covered by three stages over a thousand year period. The first stage is the pretribulation rapture of the church, which excludes the Old Testament saints. The second stage comes between the (7 year) tribulation & the millennium, and concerns physical Israel and the world when Christ returns with His church. The third stage comes after Satan has been loosed for a little season, and this is known as the consummation of the age, and the dawning of the new heaven and earth.
12. Dispensationalism contends that in the first stage of the second advent, Christ comes to secretly rapture the church, though He does not actually descend. Rather, He is joined by the church in the air and remains there during a seven year earthly tribulation period. Those that are raptured, are judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5: 10,11), after which comes the Marriage Feast of the Lamb (also in the air).
13. Dispensationalism contends that during Christ’s seven year absence, certain events occur on the earth: [a.] Daniel’s tribulation period begins (Dan. 9: 24-27); [b.] A single antichrist figure comes to power, and punishes those who refuse to worship him as God; [c.] A fearful judgment falls upon the earth (Rev. 4-19); [d.] A remnant of physical Israel (144,000 Jews) accept Christ as the Messiah (Rev. 7: 3-8); [e.] The 144,000 Jews start to preach the gospel of the kingdom (the same one that John the Baptist and Jesus preached before it was postponed); [f.] A great number of Gentiles are converted by this preaching (Rev. 7: 9); [g.] The antichrist (beast) and the false prophet, attack God’s people during what is termed ‘the Battle of Armageddon’.
14. Dispensationalism contends that Christ comes with His saints to defeat the forces of evil in this Battle of Armageddon, and witnesses the conversion of physical Israel. During this time there is a judgment of the Jews (physical Israel) who have remained on earth. Those who rebel are put to death, and the remaining Jews who accept Christ will enter the millennial kingdom.
15. Dispensationalism contends that during this time the living Gentile nations are also judged. The resurrected saints have no part in this judgment, where the living Gentiles are judged according to how they have treated God’s people during the tribulation. The sheep remain on the earth and enter the millennium, while the goats are cast into the lake of fire.
16. Dispensationalism contends that a resurrection for the tribulation saints occurs between Christ’s Second advent and the inauguration of the millennium. The Old Testament saints were not a part of the earlier resurrection of church saints, so they also rise (Rev. 20: 4). These do not enter the millennial kingdom but depart for the new Jerusalem in the sky.
17. Dispensationalism contends that during the millennium, Christ reigns on earth, and Satan is bound so that he is not be able to deceive the nations.
18. Dispensationalism contends that this millennial kingdom and the binding of Satan is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises made to physical Israel. In this kingdom, the Jews are exalted above Gentiles.
19. Dispensationalism contends that the millennium is a golden age for the earth, where peace and righteousness flourish, though there is controversy between Dispensationalists on exactly who inhabits the millennial kingdom. Some believe it to be only earthly saved people, others believe it is inhabited by both mortals and immortals.
20. Some Dispensationalists contend that during the millennium, resurrected saints live above the earth in the new Jerusalem, which subsequently descends to a newly created earth (Rev. 21: 20-22).
21. Some Dispensationalists contend that these resurrected saints participate with Christ in certain judgments (Matt. 19: 28; I Cor. 6: 2; Rev. 20: 6).
22. Dispensationalism contends that toward the end of the millennium there is another resurrection consisting of believers who die during the millennium.
23. Dispensationalism contends that those born during the millennium who are not true converts, are led by Satan (after he is loosed), to attack the ‘camp of the saints.’
24. Dispensationalism contends that after the millennium there is another resurrection of the unbelieving dead who are judged at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20: 11-15).
25. Dispensationalism contends that following the Great White Throne Judgment, the final state of the righteous is established on the new earth.
26. Some Dispensationalists contend that after the new Jerusalem descends to the new earth, Jews and Gentiles dwell together for eternity, yet remain distinct from one-another. Other Dispensationalists believe that the final state of Gentile believers is in Heaven (above), while the final state of Jewish believers is on the new earth.
Pretribulational Dispensationalism
Dispensationalism invariably ascribes to a pretribulation rapture. Some believe that only the existing church is raptured, while subsequent believers go through the Great Tribulation period. Other Dispensationalists think that all believers will be raptured before the Great Tribulation.
It should be noted that there are those who believe in a pretribulation rapture that are not dispensationalists, though they have adopted this particular doctrine. Some of these simply believe that all of the saints are raptured before the Great Tribulation, while others believe that the saints who are watching and ready are raptured before the tribulation, the remaining saints being raptured after they have been refined by experiencing the tribulation. Both of these beliefs come under the term: pretribulationalism.
Mid-tribulation Premillennialism
Mid-tribulation is the view that the church will be raptured in the middle of a seven year tribulation period rather than at the beginning or the end of it. This view contends that this seven year period is the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy (Dan 9:24-27). Some mid-tribulationalists believe that only the last half of the seven years (after the church has been raptured) constitutes tribulation, while others believe that a ‘little tribulation’ happens during the first half, and ‘great tribulation’ takes place during the last half. The latter view, believes that the church suffers from the wrath of man during the first half, but escapes the wrath of God during the second half.
Some mid-tribulationalists believe that Old Testament prophecies directed to Israel as the people of God can be fulfilled in the New Testament saints, though Old Testament prophecies referring to Israel as a nation can only be fulfilled in physical Israel. Some mid-tribulationalists believe that the ‘elect’ referred to in the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24: 22) is not referring to Jews but to the saints. A mid-tribulationalist’s view on who precisely goes through the tribulation, is determined by how they define the church. In the same way, the individual mid-tribulationalist’s definition of what constitutes the Lord’s church will determine what they believe concerning the rapture.
Post-tribulation Premillennialism
Post-tribulationalists are historical premillennialists, though there are differing views within this group. Some contend that all living believers go through the seven year tribulation, which they believe to be the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy (Dan 9:24-27). At the end of this seventieth week, God raptures his people, destroys the earth, and establish his kingdom on the new earth. Other post-tribulationalists believe that the Great Tribulation takes place during the first half of Daniel’s seventieth week. The church goes through great suffering under a single antichrist figure before the church is raptured out, then the last half of the week is a time of God’s wrath, not believed to be part of the Great Tribulation.
Post-Millennialism
Post-millennialism contends that the Kingdom of God is steadily advancing throughout the earth through the preaching of the gospel under the power of the Holy Spirit. In this way, the world is gradually Christianized to the extent that governments and nations accept Christian principles as a way of life. Eventually, the world has peace and this ushers in the golden age, and toward the end of this age, Christ returns as He promised.
Tenets of Post-millennialism:
1. Postmillennialism contends that prophecy which is given in figurative or symbolic language can be fulfilled in a figurative or symbolic way.
2. Postmillennialism contends that the world will be saved and converted before Christ returns. This is accomplished by the successful proclamation of the gospel under the convicting power of the Holy Ghost. Not every individual is saved, but Christian principles are the rule of society rather than the exception.
3. Postmillennialism contends that the Kingdom of God is a present reality on earth. Christ rules in the hearts of His people rather than in a visible kingdom; which has been in existence since the beginning of the world.
4. Postmillennialism contends that the Kingdom of God has a steady rather than sudden growth, which advances gradually throughout the world before Christ returns.
5. Postmillennialism contends that peace and righteousness are more or less established before Christ returns. The millennium period is not limited to a precise thousand years, but covers the entire church age.
6. Postmillennialism does not anticipate an imminent return of Christ.
7. Postmillennialism contends that there will be a time of evil toward the end of the millennium.
8. Postmillennialism contends that Daniel’s 70 prophetic weeks is fulfilled. This view does not recognise a connection between the end-time tribulation and the 70th week of Daniel, therefore the tribulation is not necessarily seven years in length.
9. Postmillennialism contends that there will be a future conversion of Israel alongside the rest of the nations. It does not consider this a fulfillment of prophecy concerning national Israel as a separate people, but rather as a part of the church which is made up of both Jews and Gentiles.
10. Postmillennialism contends that the earthly millennium ends with the personal, visible, and bodily return of Christ.
11. Postmillennialism contends that a future single General Resurrection and General Judgment begin immediately after the return of Christ.
12. Postmillennialists generally interpret Revelation 20: 1-6 as referring exclusively to martyrs. These martyrs reign with Christ from Heaven during the millennium, which is taking place on earth. They believe that the first resurrection is spiritual and takes place when the soul is regenerated, and that the second resurrection is a bodily resurrection which includes both the righteous and unrighteous dead. This second resurrection takes place just before the Great White Throne Judgment.
Amillennialism
Amillennialism contends that the millennium of Revelation 20 began when Christ instituted His kingdom, and ascended to David’s Throne (as proclaimed by the apostle Peter in Acts 2: 30-31).
Tenets of Amillennialism:
1. Amillennialism contends that prophecy given in figurative or symbolic language may be fulfilled in a figurative or symbolic way. It accepts a figurative or spiritual interpretation if the evidence doesn’t point to the contrary.
2. Amillennialism contends that good and evil will continue to exist side by side until Christ returns. The world will continue to deteriorate in the spiritual realm, and though things may appear to get better physically (or not), they will continue to decline spiritually regardless.
3. Amillennialism contends that the millennium continues throughout the church age, and last for an indefinite period of time rather than a literal thousand years.
4. Amillennialism contends that the millennium will end when Christ returns. The final state of the just and unjust follows soon after His return.
5. Amillennialism contends for an imminent return of Christ.
6. Amillennialism contends for an end-time persecution of all Christians under a world antichrist system (not a single figure antichrist). This persecution ends with the second coming of Christ (Some believe this to be the battle of Armageddon or Battle of Gog and Magog).
7. Amillennialism contends that Jews continue to be saved throughout the church age along with the Gentiles, because there is no separate plan for national Israel.
8. Amillennialism contends that Daniel’s 70th week of prophecy is fulfilled with Christ’s first coming (Dan 9:24-27).
9. Amillennialism contends that the tribulation at the end of the age is not connected with Daniel’s prophecy.
10. Amillennialism contends for a General Resurrection, a General Judgment, and a separation of the saved from the lost to follow thereafter.
11. They believe that the first resurrection is spiritual, and takes place at regeneration, or being born again. The second resurrection as the bodily resurrection of all people, the just and the unjust. That a separation will take place and each group will enter their eternal state.
12. Most Amillennialist hold that many of the prophecies which both premillennialists and postmillennialist claim are to be fulfilled during an earthly millennium are actually fulfilled in a spiritual sense.
Further reading:
