SEMESTER 6
184 – The Amillennial View of Eschatology
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: THEOLOGY VI LESSON # 84
ESCHATOLOGY – THE KINGDOM OF GOD – THE AMILLENNIAL VIEW OF ESCHATOLOGY
Read: Rom. 9:1-8
, Rom. 20:1-8
INTRODUCTION:
1. In this lesson, the preceding one, and the following one, I am discussing the three basic views of eschatology.
2. A-mil – This subject is held very widely among Catholics and Protestants. Protestant theology has infiltrated Baptist ranks.
3. Scripture necessary for discussion would be legion, but the interpretation of these two passages polarizes A-mil eschatology, i.e., the promises to Israel are fulfilled in church and Revelation 20 not literal.
4. Obviously, time will not permit an exhaustive discussion, but I shall attempt a very brief, but I hope, fair one.
5. I hold no animosity in this area, only standard disapproval for what I feel is error, in any area of doctrine.
I. DEFINING THE A-MILLENNIAL VIEW
1. They do not believe in a literal, theocratic reign on this earth.
2. They deny any future restoration of the nation of Israel (as such) to particular blessing.
i. They see this to be fulfilled in the “church,” “the elect.”
3. They hold that essentially all kingdom promises are fulfilled between advents.
i. Some hold this fulfillment is on earth in the church.
ii. Some hold it is in the saints in heaven.
II. THEIR APPROACH TO SCRIPTURE
1. The A-mil will be no less profuse in his use of Scripture than a Pre-mil.
2. Thus, he tries to promote his position as being a positive one.
3. It is not. It is a highly refined and explained denial of millennial doctrine.
4. Kingdom promises are not precious to them, but only something that demands explanation.
III: Their approach to the ministry would be exactly the same if none of these were in Scripture.
5. The issue is not so much hermeneutics, that is to say, do we spiritualize Scripture, but it is a matter of which Scriptures will we spiritualize.
III: The false claim of interpreting the Old Testament by the New Testament, by baptism, by circumcision. (Hear on tape.)
III. THE BIBLICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR POSITION
1. Their interpretation does not give fulfillment to the promises they deal with.
i. The giving of the land to Abraham’s seed. (Gen. 13:14-18)
ii. A kingdom of peace on the earth. (Isa. 2:4)
iii. The earth’s nations becoming Christ’s kingdom. (Rev. 11:15)
iv. The binding of Satan a thousand years. (Rev. 20:2)
v. The correspondent reign of Christ and His saints. (Rev. 20:4)
2. Their “method of interpretation” is not in reality exegetical, but a method of denial.
3. They essentially apply all future promises made to Israel, to the church.
III: How this always leads to a universal church sympathy.
4. They never hold to an imminent return of Christ which Scripture teaches.
IV. AMILLENNIALISM AND MODERNISM
1. While not all A-mils are modernist, basically all modernists are A-mils.
III: By followers of Calvin, Wesley, Baptists such as Boyce.
2. The A-mil practice of arbitrary spiritualizing of Scripture is in step with the modernists’ basic view of the Bible.
Conclusion: I exhort you to remember that the Lord is coming to establish the earthly kingdom, not to accept what men have done.