by Mike Willis
Synopsis: Examining the doctrine of premillennialism, Mike notes the significant and sundry ways that it conflicts with the clear teaching of Sacred Scripture.
Many who believe in the inspiration of the Bible also embrace a view of the end times identified as “premillennialism” or “dispensationalism.” Because every premillennial teacher has some different or unique twist, one expects that certain details of their doctrine will vary from one premillennialist to another.
To understand millennialism, one must know some terms that are frequently used in these discussions. Here is a summary of some of the different beliefs that have been advanced:
Postmillennialism is “the belief that the second coming of Christ will follow the millennium” (Webster). “An optimistic type of theology which predicts a ‘golden age,’ a Christianized millennium of predominantly human achievement before the Second Advent and the subsequent, eternal reign” (Douglas, 794). Some of our religious ancestors, such as Alexander Campbell, who published a paper entitled Millennial Harbinger, held this view of the end times. Although he was mistaken in his belief, his position did not undermine the biblical doctrine of the church, as is the case with other millennial theories.
Premillennialism is “the doctrine that the reappearance of Christ on earth will precede the millennium” (Webster). “The view which asserts that Christ will come a second time before the 1,000 years of His millennial rule, upholds a general chiliastic theology of Millennialism, and places the rapture of the saints, the first resurrection, the tribulation, and the Second Advent before the Millennium in prophetic time sequence, with the brief release of bound Satan, the second resurrection, and Last Judgment afterward” (Douglas, 798-799).
Amillennialism “denies such a thousand-year reign . . . stresses that the Apocalypse normally treats numbers symbolically. The binding of Satan for a thousand years simply means that he is completely bound; this has been effected through the victory of Calvary” (Douglas, 36). We are amillennialists in our convictions about the end times.
The theory of premillennialism may be summarized as follows: When Jesus came to the earth, He came intending to establish an earthly kingdom. The Jews rejected Jesus and crucified Him. God instituted an alternative plan to establish a spiritual kingdom, the church. The church age will last until Christ establishes His earthly kingdom. Sometime soon, Jesus will come back and silently raise the righteous dead and rapture the living saints from the earth. Seven years of tribulation will be experienced on earth when Satan is loosed for a little season. Jesus will return to earth, bringing His saints with him. The battle of Armageddon will occur. Satan will be defeated. Jesus will establish an earthly kingdom over which He will reign for 1000 years. At the end of the 1000-year reign, the wicked dead will be raised, and all men will be judged. The righteous will then be welcomed into heaven, and the wicked will be cast into hell.
The kingdom Christ came to establish was spiritual (Luke 17:20-21; John 18:36-37; 3:3-5; Rom. 14:17). The kingdom is the church (Matt. 16:16-18). It was established on Pentecost (Mark 9:1; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 47). In this respect, the kingdom has come (Acts 8:12; 28:23; Col. 1:13-14; Heb. 12:28; Rev. 1:9). The doctrine that Jesus came to establish an earthly kingdom is wrong. Jesus did not come in His first coming and will not come in His second coming to establish an earthly kingdom.
The Bible teaches that Christ would not fail in His mission (Ps. 2). If Jesus failed when He came to establish the kingdom on His first coming, what guarantee would we have that He would be able to accomplish at His second coming what He failed to do the first time? The very idea that the Son of God failed in what He purposed to accomplish is blasphemous.
If there is no kingdom, how could there be a king over that kingdom? Hence, the theory implies that Jesus is not presently King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15). If there is no kingdom, how could one be a citizen of it (John 3:3-5)? Yet, the Bible repeatedly affirms that Jesus is presently reigning (Heb. 10:10-13; 1:3, 13; 1 Cor. 15:26-26; 1 Tim. 6:15; Acts 2:29-36; Rev. 3:21). (Note the implications of the fact that Jesus is presently reigning for the 1000-year reign of Christ in Revelation 20.) Sacred Scripture shows that: (a) Jesus is reigning on the throne of David (Isa. 9:6-7; Luke 1:32-33; Acts 2:29-31); (b) He has the key of David (Isa. 22:22; Rev. 3:7); (c) He rules in the midst of His enemies (Ps. 110). His is not a reign in total utopia; (d) Jesus has all authority (Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:19-22; Col. 2:16).
Jesus expressed that He came to save the lost (Luke 19:10) and prophesied of His death (Matt. 16:21). God’s plan to save humanity through the death of His Son was purposed before the creation of the world (Rev. 13:8).
The church age was necessary because the Jews rejected Jesus as the Christ. Yet, this was not unexpected but foreshadowed in Old Testament prophecy (Ps. 22; Isa. 53; etc.).
For as long as I can remember, premillennialists have been preaching that the second coming is near. Prophetic speculation is part of denominational history. William G. Miller predicted the Lord’s coming on March 23, 1843, and on March 23, 1844, and a third time on October 22, 1844. Ellen G. White reinterpreted Miller’s predictions to make them refer to activities in heaven. Thus was founded the Seventh Day Adventists. Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah’s Witnesses) predicted the Lord’s coming in 1914. Edgar C. Whisenant mailed out a book to every church in the U.S. announcing 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988. Billy Graham preached that the second coming was imminent when I was a boy growing up. Attempting to find evidence of the imminent return of Christ through a misinterpretation of Matthew 24 is a key feature of premillennialism. The truth is that no one knows when Christ will come again (Matt. 24:36).
It demands several resurrections, including at the rapture, after the tribulation period, and after the millennium (the general resurrection). In contrast, the Scriptures teach that there is but one resurrection (John 5:28-29; 2 Thess. 1:6-9; Acts 24:15).
It teaches more than one “second coming.” Premillennialists believe in the following comings: (1) A secret coming at the rapture. At this time, the saints will be taken to heaven, where they will stay for seven years and then return to this earth. Have you seen the bumper sticker that reads: “In case of rapture, this car will be unmanned”? (2) A coming to establish His earthly kingdom. Yet, how many “second comings” are there?
It gives the “last day” a new meaning. Resurrection (John 11:24; 6:39-40) and judgment (John 12:48) are to occur on the last day. Premillennialism believes that there is a thousand-year reign of Christ between resurrection and judgment. That would demand 365,000 “last days”!
It offers salvation to people after the second coming. The day of grace is over when Christ comes again (Matt. 25:6-10; Luke 17:26-30). Christ’s second coming will be for judgment (Heb. 9:27-28).
Premillennialism is a speculative approach to Bible prophecy that contradicts many plain statements of Scripture, and should, therefore, be rejected.
Douglas, J.D., ed. The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1978.
Author Bio: Mike has worked with the Decatur Township church in southwest Indianapolis, IN for the last five years. He and his wife, Sandy, have two children, Jennifer and Corey. He can be reached at tmmikewillis@gmail.com.
