SEMESTER 6
185 – The Premillennial View of Eschatology
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: THEOLOGY VI LESSON # 85
ESCHATOLOGY – THE KINGDOM OF GOD – THE PREMILLENNIAL VIEW OF ESCHATOLOGY (THE DOCTRINES PECULIAR TO PREMILLENNIALISM)
Read: Rom. 11:13-36
INTRODUCTION:
1. A great difficulty is choosing a text for this study, not for lack, but for abundance.
2. Essentially every verse pointing to the second advent speaks (most obviously) for premillennialism.
3. They only require “in depth” and “involved” explanations, when one speaks for Post or A.
4. The best rule for Bible interpretation is first to ask, “What does it seem to say in its context?”
III: By Acts 1:6 and Romans 11:25-26, they are talking about what they seem to be, but volumes have been written to negatively explain them.
I. PECULIARITIES OF PREMILLENNIALISM
i.e. The doctrines they hold, which necessarily separate them from a-mils or post-mils.
1. The constant imminence of the literal return of Christ. (Mat. 24:37-39, Mat. 24:42-43, Lk. 12:37, I Cor. 1:7)
2. The restoration of Israel, on their land, in a national sense. (Mat. 19:28, Act 1:6, Rom. 11:25)
3. A physical and literal 1,000 year reign of peace upon this earth. (Isa. 2:1-5, II Tim. 2:12, Rev. 5:10, Rev. 20:5)
4. A two part (as opposed to a general) resurrection. (Lk. 20:36, Jn. 5:28-29, I Thes. 4:16-17, Rev. 20:4-6)
5. Here are only 4 of many doctrines necessary to Premillennialism. For instance, I might include the doctrine of a personal antichrist.
6. But I think the Pre-millennial module cannot fall while a single one of these legs stands.
II. SOME PROBLEMS PREMILLENNIALISM HAS FACED AND FACES
1. The natural human tendency to unbelief of anything that is long in coming.
III: How this is constantly shown by parables in the New Testament.
2. The simplistic, drawn by the simplicity of the doctrine, have written and said many outlandish things.
3. The prolific scholarship, in print, by A-mils, in areas of theology and soteriology.
4. Conversely, the neglect of Pre-mils to teach in depth theological and soteriological truth.
III: By my warning in Grace Not Calvinism ad against the potential of covenant theologians.
5. The inadvertent slander of the doctrine by its proponents, through careless speculation.
III: By the effect of any respected Pre-mil teaching that Hitler, Iatola Khomani, or Kissenger was the antichrist.
III. PREMILLENNIALISM AND THE BLESSED HOPE
1. Throughout both the New Testament and the Old Testament the Second Advent is presented as a blessed hope of a physical salvation. (Titus 2:12-13, I Thes. 4:13)
2. A-mil views simply do not leave this as a blessed hope, except for the few who will be presently upon the earth, (except as to the regaining of our body and judgment of the wicked).
3. Premillennialists hold Christ’s return to be the fulfillment of promise to:
i. National Israel,
ii. The living saints,
iii. Dead saints awaiting rewards,
iv. Restoration of an earth under curse, and many other wonderful things.
4. Is it a blessed hope to you, or a threat?