10

RETHINKING BIBLE PROPHECY IN THE LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE AND HISTORY

‘Eschatology’ is the study of last things. Christians should never fear having their eschatological ‘system’ scrutinised by the
plain teaching of the Bible. If you subscribe to the currently popular “Left Behind” system of eschatology, prepare to be
challenged by Scripture and history. Moreover, prepare to gain a greater respect for the integrity of the Bible.

PREMILLENNIAL ERROR OR, ‘THE RAPTURE AND THE REVELATION’ BY D. H. KUIPER

H
ow one views the events which surround the return of time Christ will reign on this earth in an earthly kingdom;
Jesus Christ in glory is determined largely by the inter- then shall come the end. A more radical form of this view is
pretation given to the term millennium (thousand dispensationalism. The dispensationalist divides the history of
years—see Rev. 20:1-7). Considering premillennialism, the mankind into seven distinct periods or dispensations, and
first clue one receives that this view cannot be the teaching of teaches that God deals with the human race during each peri-
the Word of God is the astounding lack of agreement between od according to a different principle: innocence, conscience,
the premillennialists themselves. If Scripture presented the human government, promise, law, grace, kingdom. Also, this
last things as this view insists, should there not be unanimity view insists that the Church will be removed from the earth
on all but a few minor points perhaps? But this is not the case. before the great tribulation (see Matt. 24:29). This latter view,
The definition which we offer is, therefore, not representative espoused by John N. Darby in England about 1830, and dis-
of all premillennialists, but is general enough to cover most: seminated widely in this country by the Scofield Reference
historic premillennialism is the view of the last things which Bible, is really the unique phenomenon called American
holds that the second coming of Christ will be followed by a Premillennialism. It is not taught in the Bible but in the
period of peace (an exact one thousand years) during which Scofield Reference Bible. Do not confuse the two. The Bible is

Premillennialism Teaches an Impotent Saviour

The New Testament declares Christ’s victory in binding the devil, the “strong man” [Matthew 12:29, Mark 3:27] who, with the
exception of God’s elect, held all humanity captive to the love of evil in this world, throughout the Old Testament period. The gospel
proclaims the establishment of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ—spiritual, holy, and pure—within the hearts of the elect people
of God. This is the tragedy of contemporary Christianity, whose future hope insists—as did the Jews who crucified the Lord Jesus
Christ—that the Messiah will establish (contrary to his own words) an earthly kingdom. Philip Livingstone
the infallible Word of God; the Scofield this earth again in the Revelation. At this basic unity of the covenant of grace can
Reference Bible is a deceiving commen- time there is a second resurrection of be established; if Abraham , for example,
tary that contains “explanatory notes” those saints who died during the tribula- and the New Testament Gentiles are one
on the same page with the text of tion. The second coming of Christ ush- in the eyes of God; if God deals with His
Scripture. Premillennialism has never ers in the Millennium. 6. With the people in every age according to the
been incorporated into any of the creeds, advent of the Millennium, prophetic same principle—faith, then Premillenn-
but is the private interpretations of indi- time resumes, for God returns to His ialism falls, and can only be called an
viduals within many denominations. It favored people, the Jews. Christ comes ingenious misuse of Scripture. With that
has never been maintained by outstand- to this earth and reigns in an earthly man of faith Abraham, to whom all Jews
ing theologians not taught in seminaries kingdom of peace and prosperity, a king- proudly traced their ancestry, God estab-
where scholarship and exegesis are dom which has its center in Jerusalem. lished His everlasting covenant of grace.
prominent, but by various Pentecostal The Jews are restored to Palestine, and Gen.17:7. That covenant was established
and Holiness groups, and Bible insti- at the sight of Messiah are turned to also with Abraham’s progeny. Gen.
tutes. Today this seems to be changing a Him in a great national conversion. At 22:17. The Lord makes clear that in His
bit. Premillennialism seems to be mak- the beginning of this period Satan is seed (Christ) all the nations of the earth
ing little inroads also into the Reformed bound, and Christ destroys the shall be blessed. Gen. 22:18. In the book
community. It is to counteract this Antichrist in the battle of Armageddon. of Galatians, Paul (the apostle to the
trend, and to afford God’s people some The curse is removed from nature: Gentiles) takes up the example of
Scriptural guidelines for judgment that deserts bloom and wild animals are Abraham as he rebukes the foolish
we briefly examine this erroneous view. tame. Great numbers of Gentiles are also Galatians for their attempted work of
Let us get it clearly in mind. Its main converted and incorporated into this righteousness. In making clear that God
tenets are: 1. The Jews are God’s origi- Kingdom. 7. At the end of the accounts faith in Christ for righteous-
nally intended people, they are His Millennium Satan is loosed for a short ness, the apostle speaks these amazing
Kingdom people. To them God spoke the time. 8. Then is the third resurrection, words: “Know ye therefore that they
entire Old Testament and to them He that of the wicked at the end of the which are of faith, the same are the chil-
promised the Messiah. 2. When Christ world. They are judged with the Devil dren of Abraham.” Gal. 3:7. Later he
came, He was not recognized nor and his angels, found wanting and writes “Christ hath redeemed us from
believed on by the majority of the Jews. assigned forever to feel the sting of hell. the curse of the law, being made a curse
This contingency was not foreseen by 9. Finally, the eternal state with all the for us: for it is written, Cursed is every-
the prophets, nor was it in the original fullness of heaven and emptiness of hell one that hangeth on a tree: that the
plan of God. However, since Israel, the is ushered in. Some say all the redeemed blessing of Abraham might come on the
twelve tribes, rejected the Christ, as an mingle in a new heaven and a new earth. Gentiles through Jesus Christ.” He con-
expedient He resorts to the Gentiles, Others keep the Kingdom and the cludes this chapter with the words:
which people constitute the Church in “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
Church separate forever, the one in
distinction from the Kingdom. Thus the neither bond nor free, there is neither
earthly Palestine, the other in heaven.
Church is a parenthesis in history. It male nor female, for ye are all one in
The above is a highly condensed, greatly Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then
began at the cross and shall end at the
streamlined presentation of the matter. are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs accord-
beginning of the millennium. Also, this
Some authors list as many as 22 separate ing to the promise.” Can anyone miss
implies that Scripture has been written
events. Many premillennialist preachers the unity of God’s work of redemption?
for two distinct recipients. Part is for the
must resort to a complicated chart Abraham’s seed, true spiritual Israel, is
Jews—the entire Old Testament, most of
spread across the front of the church composed of all those who have been
the gospels and especially the Sermon
building to make sure they are being fol- given faith in His dear Son. In close con-
on the Mount, and parts of Revelation.
lowed. A brief catalog of the important nection with the above is the fact that
The epistles plus other parts of the book
premillennial points is as follows: seven Paul also stresses the unity of the
of Revelation are for the Church. 3. At
dispensations, eight covenants, two sec- Church of all ages in such passages as
any moment, without signs or ann-
ond comings, three or four resurrec- Rom. 9:6-9, Eph. 2:19-22, Eph. 4:4-6,
ouncement, there shall be a Rapture.
tions, and at least four judgments. It is and Col. 1:16-20. Jesus Himself as the
See I Thess. 4:13-17, Matt. 24:40-41, and
Matt. 25:13. By the rapture is meant the difficult to conceive this as the teaching Good Shepherd was intensely conscious
sudden and secret coming of Christ to of the Bible, which was written in simple of the unity of those given Him of God to
take to Himself in the air the bodies of language for the simple, yea for babes. redeem; He said to the Jews on
the resurrected and living saints. The To the refreshing, uncomplicated, clear Solomon’s porch: “And other sheep have
wicked dead remain in the grave. This is Word of God we now turn for light on I which are not of this fold; them also I
Christ’s coming for His saints and is these matters. must bring and they shall hear my voice;
known as the first resurrection. 4. Next Underlying all Premillennial thought is and there shall be one fold and one shep-
is a seven year period called the the separation made between Old dis- herd.” John 10:16.
Tribulation (the seventh week of Dan. pensation Israel and the New dispensa- Secondly, the text most referred to by
9:24-27). During this time all the events tion Church. The question is, is Israel the Premillennialists, I Thess. 4:13-17,
of Rev. 4:9 and Matt. 24 take place. The God’s Kingdom people and are the simply does not prove a sudden, silent
Church, however, is not under tribula- Gentiles His Church? Or is Israel a spir- “rapture”, and a separate resurrection of
tion but is with her Lord in the air. 5. itual concept, so that Israel is the the righteous and wicked. Rather it
Then Christ comes with His saints to Church and the Church is Israel? If the teaches: a visible, noticeable (shout,
voice, trump) return of Christ; the res-

BACK TO THE FUTURE

urrection of the bodies of dead saints fol-
lowed immediately by the translation of
those saints who are alive at Christ’s
coming, without saying anything about
the wicked; that the saints shall forever
remain with their Lord, suggesting not
The Preterist Perspective
that they return to this mundane earth KENNETH L. GENTRY, JR., TH.D.
again in their glorified, spiritual, incor-
ruptible bodies, but that they remain He spoke in plain words the things that

W
ith a recent flurry of books
with Christ in heavenly glory! Further, and conferences, the preterist were straightway to happen, which we
Christ Himself makes clear there is but perspective is beginning to can now see with our eyes, in order
one resurrection: “Marvel not at this: for make its presence felt in current that the accomplishment might be
the hour is coming in which all that are prophecy discussions. Unfortunately, among those to whom the word was
in the graves shall hear His voice and dispensational eschatology, which spoken” (CH 3:15).
shall come forth; they that have done arose in the 1830s and is built on the Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 150-215)
good unto the resurrection of life; and futurist system, thoroughly dominates discusses Daniel’s seventieth week as a
they that have done evil unto the resur- evangelical preaching, education, pub- past event: “The half of the week Nero
rection of damnation” John 5:28, 29. lishing, and broadcasting today. held sway, and in the holy city
The Scriptures reveal one second com- Consequently, evangelical Christians Jerusalem placed the abomination; and
ing of Christ, one resurrection at His are largely unfamiliar with preterism, in the half of the week he was taken
coming, and one judgment. making it seem to be the “new kid on away, and Otho, and Galba, and
At fault is the method of interpretation the block.” Preterism, however, is as Vitellius. And Vespasian rose to the
hoary with age as is futurism. And supreme power, and destroyed
followed by adherents of this system. A
despite its overshadowing in this cen- Jerusalem, and desolated the holy
sound rule is that difficult passages of
tury, it has been well represented by place” (Miscellanies 1:21). The famed
the Word, which Rev. 20 certainly is,
leading Bible-believing scholars premillennialist Tertullian (A.D. 160-
must be explained in the light of simpler
through the centuries into our current 225) writes of the Roman conquest:
texts. One cannot escape the feeling, day.
however, that with this view a precon- “And thus, in the day of their storming,
One of the best known and most acces- the Jews fulfilled the seventy hebdo-
ceived theory is brought to Scripture,
sible of the ancient preterists is mads predicted in Daniel” (An Answer
difficult passages are appealed to as
Eusebius (A.D. 260-340), the “father of to the Jews, 8).
proof, and then the attempt is made to
church history.” In his classic
bring many simpler passages into line Even the Book of Revelation is applied
Ecclesiastical History he details
with the theory. The result is a violent to A.D. 70 by many in antiquity. In
Jerusalem’s woes in A.D. 70. After a
splitting asunder of the Word, and thus his Interpretation of the Revelation
lengthy citation from Josephus’s Wars
of the redemptive work of God! But God Andreas of Cappadocia (5th c.) noted
of the Jews, Eusebius writes that “it is
is one. His Word is one (presented in two that “there are not wanting those who
fitting to add to his accounts the true
testaments, prophecy and fulfillment), apply this passage to the siege and
prediction of our Saviour in which he
and redemption in Jesus Christ is one! foretold these very events” (3:7:1-2.) He destruction of Jerusalem by Titus”
Positively, we live in what Rev. 20 calls then refers to the Olivet Discourse, cit- (Rev. 6:12). Later he commented:
the “thousand years”. This millennium ing Matthew 24:19-21 as his lead-in ref- “These things are referred by some to
began at Pentecost and will end when erence and later Luke 21:20, 23, 24. He those sufferings which were inflicted
time and history end. Christ shall return concludes: “If any one compares the by the Romans upon the Jews” (Rev.
personally and visibly, shall call forth the words of our Saviour with the other 7:1). According to noted church
dead from the graves and the seas, shall accounts of the historian concerning historian Henry Wace, Andreas’s com-
the whole war, how can one fail to won- mentary is “the earliest systematic
judge all men according to their works,
der, and to admit that the foreknowl- exposition of the book in the Greek
and shall bring His sheep into one fold,
edge and the prophecy of our Saviour church.” Andreas himself informs us
the heavenly house of many mansions!
were truly divine and marvelously that he wrote it in order “to unfold the
Let the Reformed truth continue to be
strange” (3:7:7). meaning of the Apocalypse, and to
sounded “that the Son of God from the
Another ancient document applying make the suitable application of its pre-
beginning to the end of the world, gath-
Matthew 24 to A.D. 70 is the Clemen- dictions to the times that followed it.”
ers, defends, and preserves to Himself by
His Spirit and Word out of the whole tine Homilies (2d c.): “Prophesying Arethas of Cappadocia (6th c.) also pro-
human race, a Church chosen to ever- concerning the temple, He said: ‘See ye vides us a commentary on Revelation
lasting life, agreeing in true faith” these buildings? Verily I say to you, which, according to Wace “professes to
There shall not be left here one stone be a compilation” though “no mere
(Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day XXI)
upon another which shall not be taken reproduction of the work of his prede-
Blessed are all those who are living
away Matt. 24:3; and this generation cessor, although it incorporates a large
members thereof!
The Rev. Dale H. Kuiper is pastor of Southeast Protestant
shall not pass until the destruction portion of the contents of that work.”
Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. begin Matt. 24:34...’ And in like manner Arethas specifically applies various pas-
sages in Revelation to A.D. 70 (Rev. 6-7). noted American Congregationalist, cy. Their works often contain valuable
Jumping ahead in history, we find the Moses Stuart (1780-1852). The still pop- historical and grammatical gems that
Spanish Jesuit Alcasar (1614) who great- ular commentary on Revelation by may be sifted from the rubble of critical
ly systematized the preterist approach to Methodist scholar Adam Clarke (1762- exegesis.
Revelation. About this same time great 1832) follows much of Lightfoot’s com- Hyper-preterists (e.g., J. S. Russell’s, The
reformed preterists flourished, such as mitment to an A.D. 70 focus, as does that
Parousia, 1887, rep. 1983, 1997) provide
Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) and Jean found in The Early Days of Christianity
many fine insights into preteristic pas-
LeClerc (1657-1736). In fact, one of the by renowned Anglican historian, F. W.
sages. Unfortunately, they go too far by
finest intellects of the Westminster Farrar (1831-1903). Baker Book House
extending valid observations gathered
Assembly was a strong preterist: John recently republished The Message from
from temporally-confined judgment
Lightfoot (1601-1675). In his Comm- Patmos (1921, rep. 1989) by David S.
passages (texts including such delimita-
entary on the New Testament from the Clark, father of Presbyterian apologist
Gordon S. Clark. tions as “soon” and “at hand”) to pas-
Talmud and Hebraica (1674; rep. 1989)
sages that are not temporally con-
Lightfoot offered a fine preterist exposi- Entering our own generation, several
strained and that actually prophesy the
tion of Matthew 24 (2:308-321), with reformed expositions have helped fuel
future Second Advent of Christ. This
allusions to 2 Thessalonians 2. Of the the current revival of preterism. J.
school of preterism tends to focus all
Thessalonian passage he argued that the Marcellus Kik’s The Eschatology of
eschatological pronouncements on A.D.
“restrainer” therein “is to be understood Victory (1971) developed the Olivet
of the emperor Claudius enraged at and Discourse in great detail for us. Even 70, including the resurrection of the
curbing in the Jews” (2:312). more recent works include: David dead, the great judgment, and the sec-
Chilton’s The Great Tribulation (1987), ond advent of Christ. Consequently, they
Lightfoot even adopted the view that
Gary DeMar’s Last Days Madness (1991), leave the stream of historic orthodoxy by
Revelation 1:7 speaks of “Christ’s taking
and my Perilous Times (1998). denying a future return of Christ and are
vengeance on that exceeding wicked
even pressed by system requirements to
nation” of Israel (2:319 and 422). There The first phase of the current revival of
deny the bodily resurrection of Christ.
he interpreted Christ’s coming as a prov- preterist commentaries on Revelation
idential judgment upon “those who include The Time Is At Hand (1966) by This view has developed a cult-like fol-
pierced him” (the Jews) from among “all Jay E. Adams and Search the Scriptures: lowing of narrowly focused and combat-
the tribes of the land literally” (Israel). Hebrews to Revelation (1978) by ive adherents.
This committed Lightfoot so strongly to Cornelis Vanderwaal. More recently still Evangelical (and reformed) preterists
preterism that he suggested Revelation’s we have The Days of Vengeance (1987) (e.g., R. C. Sproul) take seriously the
overall theme is Israel’s judgment: “I by David Chilton, Revelation: Four time texts of Scripture and apply those
may further add, that perhaps this Views (1996) by Steve Gregg, and my prophecies to A.D. 70, a redemptive-his-
observation might not a little help (if my contribution to Marvin Pate’s Four torical event of enormous consequence.
eyes fail me not) in discovering the Views on the Book of Revelation and my They argue that there God finally and
method of the author of the Book of the forthcoming A Tale of Two Cities (1999). conclusively broadened his redemptive
Revelation” (3:210). This led him to con- R. C. Sproul’s The Last Days According focus from the Jews to all races (Matt.
clude that the “judiciary scene set up in to Jesus (1998) employs preterism as an 28:19), from the land of Israel to all the
Rev. 4 and 5, and those thrones Rev. apologetic tool in defense of the integri- world (Acts 1:8), and from the temple-
20:1” speak of “the throne of glory” and ty of the prophecies of Jesus (Olivet) and based worship to a simpler spiritual-
“is to be understood of the judgment of John (Revelation). based worship (John 4:21-24). Where
Christ to be brought upon the treacher- As we consider the history of preterism such time markers are absent from
ous, rebellious, wicked, Jewish people. we should be aware of its various eschatological texts, though, evangelical
We meet with very frequent mention of branches. Just as premillennialism has preterists apply the prophecies to the
the coming of Christ in his glory in this cultic (e.g., Mormonism and Jehovah’s Second Advent at the end of history. The
sense” (2:266). Witnesses), dispensational (e.g., Scofield judgments in A.D. 70 are similar to
Moving even closer to our own day, the and Ryrie), and historic (e.g., Ladd and those associated with the Second Advent
great hermeneutics scholar Milton S. Kromminga) expressions, so preterism (and to the Babylonian conquest in the
Terry (1840-1914) published much on has three main divisions today.
Old Testament) and are actually adum-
the preterist scheme. His preterist con- Liberal preterists (e.g., James Moffatt, brations of the Second Advent.
victions abundantly appear both in his Expositor’s Greek Testament 1940) gen-
classic text Biblical Hermeneutics So, the preterist urges the Christian
erally view prophecies of A.D. 70 as ex
(1885; rep. 1974) and in a separate work interested in biblical prophecy to go
eventu pronouncements, that is, as
Biblical Apocalyptics (1898; rep. 1988). “back to the future.” That is, in many
“after the event” pseudo-prophecies.
The renowned Swiss-American church cases we must go back to the original
Revelation especially is deemed an edito-
historian Philip Schaff (1819-1893) also rialized compound of various Jewish and audience and look to the near future.
published a preterist view of Revelation Christian oracles generated from histor- And to understand the historical nature
in his classic History of the Christian ical responses to Jerusalem’s destruc- of preterism itself, we must look beyond
Church (1:825-852). tion. Liberal preterists correctly the current debate to the stream of
One of the finest preterist commentaries recognize the A.D. 70 focus of many interpretation running throughout
on Revelation ever published was judgment prophecies, but wrongly deny Christian history.
Commentary on the Apocalypse by the the predictive nature of inspired prophe- © 2003 www.KennethGentry.com. All rights reserved.

Edited by Michael Bull (02) 4782 4695 PO Box 331 Katoomba NSW 2780 Australia The Last Days is available in PDF from www.bullartistry.com.au