Historical Premillennialism: This belief was held by a
large percentage of Christians "during the first three centuries of the
Christian era, and is found in the works of Papias, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr,
Tertullian, Hippolytus, Methodius, Commodianus, and
Lactanitus." The Antichrist first appears on earth and the
seven year Tribulation begins. Next comes the Rapture. Christ and his Church
return to earth to rule for a Millennium. The faithful will spend eternity in
the New Jerusalem. It is a gigantic cubical structure, some 1,380 miles height,
width and depth, which will have descended to Earth. New Jerusalem is a.k.a.
Celestial city, City of God, Heavenly Jerusalem, Holy city, Shining City on a
Hill, Tabernacle of God, Zion, etc. The forces of evil will have been
conquered. The faithful will live during this thousand years of peace in
Jerusalem, while occupying spiritual bodies. After this period, all people are
judged.
Premillennialism was declared a heresy at the Council of Ephesus
(431). Amillennialism soon became the prevailing doctrine of the Roman Catholic
Church and premillennialism was suppressed.
Dispensational Premillennialism: (a.k.a.
Dispensationalism) Premillennialism, declared a heresy in ancient times, was
reintroduced circa 1830. Most people credit John N. Darby with its
resurrection. He was a minister of the Church of Ireland, a denomination in the
Anglican communion, and the founder of the Plymouth Brethren. However, author
Dave MacPherson claims that British pastor Edward Irving was the actual person
responsible, and that a conspiracy was organized to give Darby the credit.
Premillenialism received general acceptance by most Fundamentalists and other
Evangelical Christians after the publishing of the Scofield Reference Bible in
1909. As in Historic Premillennialism, the Tribulation is believed to precede
the second coming of Christ, and the subsequent establishment of the millennial
kingdom -- a thousand-year golden age on Earth. The Final Judgment follows the
millennium. But, theologians are divided over the timing of the Rapture. Many
Premillennialists search world events and signs in the heavens for some
indication of the Tribulation, which they anticipate will arrive at any time.
Amillennialism: (Also sometimes referred to as
nonmillennialism, nunc-millennialism, or realized millennialism).
Amillennialists believe that the millennium is not an actual physical realm on
Earth. They do not believe that it will last 1,000 years. Rather it began at
the time of Pentecost (circa 30 CE) and is currently active in the world today
through the presence of the heavenly reign of Christ, the Bible, the Holy
Spirit and the activities of Christian faith groups. Both good and evil will
continue in the world during this time. Lawlessness, a falling away from the
Church, and persecution of Christians will increase in magnitude. Finally, the
current Church Age will end suddenly at Christ's second coming. A type of
Rapture will happen when Christ returns: believers will rise to meet Jesus in
the sky. All will then shortly return to Earth. The Day of Judgment will then
occur. Events described in The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke
21) and in most of the book of Revelation are seen as occurrences which have
already happened, or which are symbolic in nature and not to be taken literally.
The Antichrist is looked upon figuratively and not as a real person.
This belief was held by many leaders of the early Christian church
during the first and second centuries CE. Simultaneously, other leaders --
perhaps the majority -- taught a version of premillennialism that is very
different from today's dispensational premillennialism. St. Augustine (354 -
430 CE), often called the "Father of Amillennialism" was largely
responsible for the establishment of amillennialism as the formal church belief.
It remained the generally accepted system throughout Christianity until after
the Reformation in the 16th century. Many Christian denominations -- including
the Anglican Communion, Disciples of Christ, Lutheran, Orthodox,
Reformed, Roman Catholic, and some Baptists continue to teach Amillennialism.
Postmillennialism: (Also known as
"Christian Reconstruction", "Kingdom Now Theology" and
"Dominion Theology.") This belief arose during the early 19th century
CE. According to author Loraine Boettner, Postmillennialism involves "that
view of last things which holds that the kingdom of God is now being extended
in the world through the preaching of the gospel and the saving work of the
Holy Spirit, that the world eventually is to be Christianized, and that the
return of Christ will occur at the close of a long period of righteousness and
peace, commonly called the millennium." The theory is based on the
perception of a gradual movement towards social perfection. They predicted that
a massive religious revival, spiritual awakening and purification would occur.
The entire human race is converted to Christianity, including the Jews. A
millennium of peace and righteousness follows. After the millennium, Jesus
returns to earth, resurrects the dead believers, and conducts the last
judgment. The Rapture and Tribulation are largely ignored. This belief is being
actively promoted today by the Chalcedon Foundation and other groups within the
Christian Reconstruction movement.
Preterism is a belief that the events prophesized
in the New Testament have already happened. The great war of Armageddon in the
book of Revelation occurred in the late 60's and early 70's CE when the temple
in Jerusalem was destroyed, many Jews were killed and the rest were driven from
Palestine. When Jesus talked about the end of the world, he did not mean that
the physical world would be no more. He taught that the old worldview held by
various contemporary Jewish groups was coming to an end, to be replaced by a
new concept, the Kingdom of God. Thus, all of the major elements in the book of
Revelation (Tribulation, Armageddon, Rapture, etc.) actually took place in the
first century CE. 8
No Millennialism: Most skeptics and liberal
Christian theologians largely interpret the contents of the books of Daniel and
Revelation as having no prophetic information for our future. Many regard
Revelation as being composed of visions, hallucinations or nightmares of the
author, of little meaning for Christians today. Some believe that the purpose
of the book of Revelation was to stiffen resolve in the early Christian
movement to withstand persecution by the Roman Empire. Thus, its purpose was to
predict persecutions and other events that were to happened to the early
Christian church. They also reject the apparent prophecies in the Book of
Daniel. They believe that Daniel was written early in the 2nd century BCE, long
after most of the events had actually happened. It was history recorded, not their
future prophesized.[1]
What are the different beliefs
about the Rapture?
All of the theories that have been proposed about the timing of
the Rapture appear to contradict some passages in the Bible. Current beliefs
include:
Pre-Tribulation Rapture: (or "pre-trib")
The Rapture happens just before the Tribulation, so that believers will not
have to experience any of its disruption and pain. The main difficulties with
pre-trib are contained in the Olivet Prophecy of Jesus. In Matthew 24, Mark 13,
and Luke 21, Jesus describes the terrible destruction and loss of life of the
tribulation period. The disaster is believed to be so intense that no human
(Christian or non-Christian alike) would remain alive, except that God shortens
the duration of the disaster for the sake of the believers. Jesus then
continues by describing his return towards earth immediately after the terrible
devastation. From this passage, it is obvious that the rapture will follow the
Tribulation. The supporters of the "pre-trib" position suggest that
Jesus will have a total of three comings: the first during the first century
CE; the second at the start of the tribulation, and a third at the end of the
tribulation.
Post-tribulation Rapture: (or "post-trib")
The faithful experience the full horrors of the entire Tribulation and are
raptured only at the end of the 7 years. The main problem with this theory is
that there are many Bible passages which state that Christ's return will be at
a time that cannot be predicted. But the Tribulation period starts with the
arrival of the Antichrist and an interval of peace. Precisely 42 months later,
a sudden shift occurs, a peace treaty is broken, and devastation begins. These
would be well defined dates that would allow an accurate prediction of the end
of the Tribulation. There are other weaknesses to this theory. 7
Mid-Tribulation Rapture: (or "mid-trib")
The Rapture happens 42 months into the Tribulation. Up to that time, the
Antichrist brings peace to the world. After 42 months, events take a sudden
turn for the worse. Some supporters of the "mid-trib" position
suggest that there will be many mini-raptures.
Pre-wrath Rapture: This is a new theory,
promoted by Marvin Rosenthal, former director of Friends of Israel, and others.
Their view teaches that the church must experience most of the Tribulation, and
then be raptured towards the end of the Tribulation period.
Partial Rapture: This theory teaches that the
faithful born-again believers are raptured just before the Tribulation. Newly
born again believers are are raptured during or at the end of the
Tribulation.