SEMESTER 6
183 – The Post-Millennial View of Eschatology
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: THEOLOGY VI LESSON # 83
ESCHATOLOGY – THE KINGDOM OF GOD – THE POSTMILLENNIAL VIEW OF ESCHATOLOGY
Read: Mat. 24:12-14
, II Tim. 3:1-6
INTRODUCTION:
1. We have moved to the kingdom issue of eschatology (i.e., last things).
2. Thus, the issue is what shall the kingdom be in its future and last stages?
3. We have learned that it was not what it was, and is not what it shall be.
III: By the foolish question: “How can it be both 1,000 years long, and everlasting?”
4. The three divisions of thought are A, Post, Pre-mil (diversities in each).
5. Now, I want to consider the “post-mil” view.
I. THE BELIEF OF THE POSTMILLENNIALIST
1. It is thought by some that “post-mils” are gone forever, given over to the A-mil position.
2. This will not happen, the Bible produces enough problems for each of these positions to force vacillation.
3. Postmillennialism simply means after the millennium, and thus that Christ will come after.
4. Their position as to cause and effect is as follows:
i. That the Holy Ghost via Church and Gospel is converting the world.
ii. That Christ will in the “non-foreseeable” future return to a prepared kingdom.
5. They are divided into two basic philosophical groups:
i. Those who (as Unitarians) believe in man’s inherent good prevailing in the world. The basic propagator, Daniel Whitby, was a Unitarian.
ii. Those who interpret Scripture as teaching the Church’s victory in converting the world.
I. THE SCRIPTURES THEY USE
1. In Matthew 13:33 they interpret the leaven to symbolize the Gospel.
2. 1 Corinthians 15:23-28 interpreted to mean He reigns in the person of the Holy Spirit conquering the earth for Himself.
3. Matthew 28:18-20 interpreted to mean He will convert all nations, since He has all power.
4. In many of these areas they join hands with the A-mils, in that they see a present, progressive existence of His kingdom, and they spiritualize most promises to Israel.
II. THE POSTMILLENNIALIST’S PROBLEMS
1. All the Scriptures that teach a progressive apostasy upon the earth.
2. All the scriptural examples of God calling a few out of the multitudes, not converting the multitudes.
3. History from the time of Christ’s first advent certainly does not indicate a percentage of gain.
4. Their philosophy permeates and frustrates many pre-mils. What is happening? We are losing ground.
III. POSTMILLENNIALISM IS COMPATIBLE WITH MODERNISM
1. In that both accept the direction of society as necessarily improving.
III:”Well men are getting better, according to the Bible are they not?”
2. In that they must, therefore, accept evil as somehow being good, “in its own way.” Their thinking is, “If the church is progressing, then these apparent sinners in the church must be acceptable.”
3. To them the conservatives who criticize the world are foolish, non-progressives who cannot see good when it stares them in the face. “To you, everything is bad. You are just narrow minded.”
4. We have a biblical exhortation as to what we are to do in our present age. (II Tim. 4:1-5)
We will not win the world for Christ, He will conquer it for us.
The meek will never conquer the earth, nor will they convert it, they will inherit it.