[Different Understandings of Eschatology Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "The Bible is a glorious revelation of God that includes His creation, His plan of redemption for His people, the conflict between two kingdoms, and His intention to restore the earth to its original condition that existed before the fall. Throughout church history, the Bible has been interpreted in different ways, but this is not because the Scriptures are lacking in clarity. Some factors that may cause people to interpret the Bible differently include: using an improper hermeneutic, reading into the Scriptures what it does not say, following personalities and traditions instead of testing everything with Scripture, and elevating human reason and experience above the authority of God's Word. The Word of God can be best understood when it is read in a literal, normal, and plain sense. A normal reading of Scripture is synonymous with a consistent literal, grammatical, historical hermeneutic.
Throughout church history, all areas of Biblical doctrine have been studied, recognized, and accepted. In the first two centuries, the doctrine of the inspiration of the Bible and the canon of Scripture were recognized and affirmed. Later, in the third and fourth centuries, it was the study of Christology which dealt with the human and divine nature of Jesus. In the 16th century, the Reformers dealt with soteriology, the doctrine of justification. Now, the doctrine of eschatology, which is the study of the end times, appears to be a central focus of study and conversation.
Tragically, many of today's evangelicals, who embrace the biblical soteriology of the Reformers, are also embracing a Roman Catholic eschatology that the Reformers never challenged. Using an allegorical approach to eschatology, Roman Catholicism rejects all the prophecies and covenants that declare Jesus will have a literal, physical reign on the earth from the throne of David. This amillennial view regards the "thousand years," which is mentioned six times in Revelation 20:1-6, as symbolic. They say it has already begun and is identical with the church age, with Christ reigning as King in the hearts of His people.
It is difficult to understand why evangelicals would allegorize the Scriptures that clearly teach a physical, earthly reign of the Lord Jesus Christ on the throne of David (Luke 1:32). Why would they deny the glorious reign of King Jesus who will be sent by His Father to restore and refresh the earth to its pre-fall condition? (Acts 3:19-26; 2 Sam. 7:12-17; Dan. 2:44). The kingdom of Jesus will have blessings that have never been seen before, including peace and righteousness (Isaiah 2:4, 11:3-4, 32:1,17, 65:21-22, Zech. 8:4-5), good health, and long life (Isaiah 35:5,6, 65:20), the removal of the divine curse on the earth due to the sin of man (Romans 8:18-23), and a restored earth which will produce an abundance of food (Joel 3:18, Amos 9:13, Psalm 72:16, Zech. 8:12, Isaiah 35:1, Ezekiel 36:34-35). Also in this amazing Kingdom, "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:9).
The Millennium is the fulfillment of God's purpose in glorifying His exalted Son. All of His redeemed saints and all the nations of the world will worship and praise Him for being the King of kings! "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it" (Psalm 22:27-31)."
oly: Pro-Gospel.org
Throughout church history, all areas of Biblical doctrine have been studied, recognized, and accepted. In the first two centuries, the doctrine of the inspiration of the Bible and the canon of Scripture were recognized and affirmed. Later, in the third and fourth centuries, it was the study of Christology which dealt with the human and divine nature of Jesus. In the 16th century, the Reformers dealt with soteriology, the doctrine of justification. Now, the doctrine of eschatology, which is the study of the end times, appears to be a central focus of study and conversation.
Tragically, many of today's evangelicals, who embrace the biblical soteriology of the Reformers, are also embracing a Roman Catholic eschatology that the Reformers never challenged. Using an allegorical approach to eschatology, Roman Catholicism rejects all the prophecies and covenants that declare Jesus will have a literal, physical reign on the earth from the throne of David. This amillennial view regards the "thousand years," which is mentioned six times in Revelation 20:1-6, as symbolic. They say it has already begun and is identical with the church age, with Christ reigning as King in the hearts of His people.
It is difficult to understand why evangelicals would allegorize the Scriptures that clearly teach a physical, earthly reign of the Lord Jesus Christ on the throne of David (Luke 1:32). Why would they deny the glorious reign of King Jesus who will be sent by His Father to restore and refresh the earth to its pre-fall condition? (Acts 3:19-26; 2 Sam. 7:12-17; Dan. 2:44). The kingdom of Jesus will have blessings that have never been seen before, including peace and righteousness (Isaiah 2:4, 11:3-4, 32:1,17, 65:21-22, Zech. 8:4-5), good health, and long life (Isaiah 35:5,6, 65:20), the removal of the divine curse on the earth due to the sin of man (Romans 8:18-23), and a restored earth which will produce an abundance of food (Joel 3:18, Amos 9:13, Psalm 72:16, Zech. 8:12, Isaiah 35:1, Ezekiel 36:34-35). Also in this amazing Kingdom, "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:9).
The Millennium is the fulfillment of God's purpose in glorifying His exalted Son. All of His redeemed saints and all the nations of the world will worship and praise Him for being the King of kings! "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it" (Psalm 22:27-31)."
oly: Pro-Gospel.org
