Pre-Wrath, Post-Tribulation, Pre-Tribulation and A-millennialism
As the header intends to show, there is quite a bit of confusion and misunderstandings regarding the position of
the believers towards the Rapture/Tribulation period. Positions change and have changed from one extreme to
the other, and their proponents seem to find verses that support their chosen view. Then, since God is not the
Author of confusion, obviously the fault of all this must reside with us.
In the spirit of a free, constructive discussion, we have decided to place the different views side by side, with
common layout rules, so to let the reader judge for himself. We have asked proponents of these different
viewpoints to respond to 4 basic questions:
•
a MAIN VERSE which delimits their position
•
SUPPORTING VERSES
•
WHY THEY PERSONALLY BELIEVE SO
•
TO DEFINE THE TIMEFRAME
We would like to remind all Christians that it is not what we singly believe about the Rapture or the
Tribulation that saves us, but our active faith in the Blood Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Important
as it may be, for its defining characteristics and the guiding influence that it exercise directly and
indirectly in our lives, no particular tribulation/rapture credo is all that important to make us forget the
love amongst brothers, manifested in common courtesy, humbleness and the willingness to listen to each
other. Yes, especially humbleness, since NOBODY can prove with absolute certainty his position on this
matter. IT IS UNFOLDING, this we all agree (well, except the A-millennialists), and we can be certain
that all these "mysteries" will soon find their revelation.
The principal views about the Rapture and the Tribulation period, are the following:
Pre-trib
Mid-trib
Post-trib
Prewrath A-millennial
POSITION
AUTHOR
e-mail
PREWRATH
Gary Waterlaus
gvaterlaus@signministries.org
MAIN VERSE
THE RAPTURE IN MATTHEW 24:27-31
In the Olivet discourse, Jesus is answering the disciples question: "What will be the sign of your
coming and of the end of the age?". Jesus answers their question in the following verses: "But
immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON
WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken, and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the
tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF
THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET
and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to
the other." Matt. 24:29-31
The event described in Matthew 24:29 is the single most important clue as to the timing of the
Rapture. The event described in Matthew 24:29 is the sign that indicates the beginning of the wrath of
God. It is clear that the Lord lifted His words directly from the Old Testament prophets. Isaiah, Joel
and Zephaniah predicted that these very signs would signal the beginning of God's wrath against the
wicked during a time period known as the Day of the Lord.
Joel specifically states that the cataclysmic disturbances in the sky would come before the actual
beginning of the eschatological Day of the Lord when he wrote, "The sun will be turned into darkness
and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes" (Joel 2:31). This one
fact alone dispels any possible notion that the entire seven year period known as Daniel's Seventieth
Week is the wrath of God. It also gives us the single most important clue about the beginning point of
God's wrath. The Lord states that the Day of the Lord begins immediately after the tribulation of
Satan/Antichrist is cut short (Matt. 24:21-22,29).
With the universe devoid of light, a second sign occurs. The sign of the Son of Man appears in the sky
(Matt 24:27, 30). All the tribes of the earth begin to mourn when they see it. Christ is then seen
"coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory". Matthew 24:31 then states, "And He
will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four
winds, from one end of the sky to the other." This is the rapture that Paul speaks of in 1 Thess.
4:13-18.
SUPPORTING VERSES
THE RAPTURE IN 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-5:11
Paul wrote: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air....For
yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night....But ye, brethren,
are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief" (1 Thess. 4:16-17, 5:2-4).
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, Paul does not give any indication of the timing of the Parousia of Christ.
One knows what will happen, but nothing about when it will happen. However, once the unity of 1
Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 is recognized, the reader is able to discern a very important connection. The
teaching of Paul and the teaching of the Lord in Matthew 24-25 are parallel. In fact, no less than
sixteen parallels occur between Matthew 24-25 and 1 Thessalonians 4-5. Note the following parallels:
1. Christ Himself returns (1 Thess. 4:16 with Mart 24:30).
2. From heaven (1 Thess. 4:16 with Matt. 24:30).
3. With a shout (1 Thess. 4:16 with Matt. 24:30 [in power]).
4. Accompanied by angels (1 Thess. 4:16 with Matt. 24:31).
5. With the trumpet of God (1 Thess. 4:16 with Matt. 24:31.
6. Believers are supernaturally gathered to Christ (1 Thess. 4:17 with Matt. 24:3 1, 40-41).
7. Believers meet the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17 [apantesis] with Matt. 25:1, 6 [upantesis and
apantesis]).
8. In the clouds (1 Thess. 4:17 with Matt. 24:30).
9. The time is unknown (1 Thess. 5:1-2 with Matt. 24:36);
10. Will come as a thief (1 Thess. 5:2,4 with Matt. 24:43).
11. Will come at night (1 Thess. 5:2 with Matt. 24:43).
12. Unbelievers are unaware of impending judgment (1 Thess. 5:3 with Matt. 24:37-39).
13. Judgment comes as travail upon an expectant mother (1 Thess. 5:3 with Matt. 24:8 [cf. RSV]).
14. Believers not deceived (1 Thess. 5:6 with Matt. 24:4-5).
15. Believers are to watch (1 Thess. 5:6 with Matt. 24:42).
16. Warning against drunkenness (1 Thess 5:7 with Matt. 24:49).
This evidence is compelling. We are able to conclude that the Lord and Paul are teaching the same
sequence of events concerning the Parousia. The Rapture initiates the Day of the Lord, which is the
wrath of God against the wicked.
THE RAPTURE IN REVELATION 6:1-17, 7:9-17
Just as Paul follows the end-times sequence which the Lord gives in Matthew's Olivet Discourse, so
do the seals in the book of the Revelation. The beginning birth pang of false christs (Matt 24:5) is
represented in the first seal. The false Christ begins his reign by conquering nations (Rev. 6:2). The
second beginning birth pang of wars (Matt 24:6-7a) is represented in the second seal of wars (Rev.
6:4). The third beginning birth pang of famine (Matt 24:7b) is presented in the third seal of famine
(Rev. 6:6). The period of hard labor (persecution and apostasy Matt. 24:9-13) is represented in the
fourth seal of death (Rev. 6:8). Satan and the Antichrist unleash their God-ordained three and a half
year campaign of persecution against God's elect. The fifth seal represents those who are killed
because of their faith in Christ as the Lord prophesied (Matt 24:9). The sixth seal represents the sign
that initiates the Parousia of Christ & the sign in the sun, moon, and stars (Matthew 24:29).
WHY DO I BELIEVE THIS WAY
Simply put, I believe this way because it is what the Bible clearly teaches. When one approaches
scripture with a consistent hermeneutic and compares scripture with scripture, not trying to interpret
scripture to fit a pre-conceived theology, the pre-wrath position is the natural result.
The pre-wrath rapture position harmonizes all scriptures relating to Christ's Second Coming. It
harmonizes the clear teaching of Scripture, including the following facts:
1. The church is exempted from the eschatological wrath of God (1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9)
2. The 70th week of Daniel is composed of two parts: the wrath of Antichrist/Satan and the wrath
of God (Day of the Lord) (Rev. 12:12-14; Rev. 6:12-17; Rev. 15:1)
3. The eschatological Day of the Lord follows the period called "The Great Tribulation" that
begins at the middle of the seventieth week of Daniel. (Matt. 24: 27-31; 2 Thess. 2:1-8)
4. Antichrist/Satan's persecution will be "cut short" by the removal of the object of his
persecution - the Church - by rapture to heaven. (Matt. 24:21-22; Rev. 7:13-14)
I held to the pre-tribulation position for over 15 years, but had never really studied it. There had
always been verses that bothered me and didn't seem to fit with the position. Once I sat down with an
open mind to see just what Scripture really taught concerning Christ's Second Coming, it all came
together and fit so well with the pre-wrath position.
WHERE ARE WE NOW IN THE TIMEFRAME
Jesus said, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the
Father alone" (Matt. 24:36). We cannot know the exact time of Christ's return. However our Lord also
says in verses 32-33, "...when [the fig tree's] branch has already become tender, and puts forth its
leaves, you know that summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that
He is near, right at the door." And in Luke 21:28 He states, "when these things begin to take place,
straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
I believe that the time is nearing. We have seen the reestablishment of Israel into her land in 1948.
They took control of Jerusalem in 1967. And, with the turmoil in the Middle East, they are desperate
for a peace accord. There are no other events which must take place before the events of the 70th week
can begin. Whether it happens in my life time or that of my children's or grandchildren's, I do not
know. But I do know that we are to be prepared, living in holiness, being sober and watchful.
POSITION
AUTHOR
e-mail
POST-TRIBULATION
Harry Bethel
h@bethelministries.com
MAIN VERSE
Concerning the timing of the rapture, the apostle Paul wrote:
"Now we beseech you, brethren, by [concerning] the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by
[concerning] our gathering together unto him....Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day
shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition" - (2 Thess. 2:1-3).
According to the Scriptures Jesus will rapture the saints on the last day of the Great Tribulation, not
before it. The Apostle Peter did not believe that Jesus would return at any moment after He ascended
into heaven. Jesus, before His ascension, told Peter that he would live to be an old man, which would
be many years later, and how he would die to glorify God (Jn. 21:18-19). Paul knew that he was a
chosen vessel unto the Lord to bear His name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel
(Acts 9:15). The apostle knew that the rapture would not take place before this ministry was
accomplished.
Since Peter and Paul did not believe in the imminent return of Christ, then when can Christians believe
that Christ could return at any moment? The answer is recorded in Luke 21:25-28. "And there shall be
signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with
perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those
things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they
see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to
come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption [the redemption of the saints]
draweth nigh." These things will happen on the last day of the Great Tribulation.
SUPPORTING VERSES
Paul wrote:
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall
be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air....For yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night....But ye, brethren, are not in
darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief" - (1 Thess. 4:16-17, 5:2-4).
Jesus will rapture the saints with the sound of a trump. Which trump? Paul wrote, "Behold, I show you
a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall
be changed" - (1 Cor. 15:51-52).
When is the last trump? According to the Revelation there are seven trumpets during the Great
Tribulation. The seventh and last trumpet recorded in Scripture is sounded on the last day of the
tribulation: "And the seventh angel sounded [the seventh and last trumpet]; and there were great
voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his
Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever....And the nations were angry, and thy wrath [from which
the saints were delivered] is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou
shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints...." - (Rev. 11:15-18).
It is imperative to know that the last day of the tribulation is depicted in six passages throughout the
Revelation. It is impossible to understand the chronology of the events of the Great Tribulation
without seeing this. The last day of the Great Tribulation is portrayed (perhaps within a few verses
before and after) in the following passages in the Revelation: 6:12-17; 11:15-19; 14:14-20; 16:17-21;
19:11-21; and 20:9-21:8. John the Revelator wrote of events that he saw and then wrote of the last day.
Then he wrote of events that he saw and then wrote of the last day. He did this six times in the Book of
Revelation.
We are living in times of easy believism, easy credit, easy living, and easy exit for the saints. A major
point that pre-tribulationists try to make to uphold their view is that God has not appointed us to
wrath. But we must answer the question, What is the wrath to which we are not appointed? And, can
saints go through the Great Tribulation without directly suffering the wrath of God, as did the Old
Testament saints in Egypt when God sent his plagues because of Pharaoh?
One of the purposes of the Great Tribulation will be for unrepentant worldlings to experience the
judgment of God, as have sinful societies throughout history, from the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah,
Jerusalem, and others up to the worldwide judgment of the end-time Tribulation. Another purpose will
be the persecution of the saints during the Great Tribulation in order to clean us up for the return of
Christ. Much of the suffering of the saints during this terrible time will be from persecution and not
directly from the judgments of God. (There will, however, be suffering because of not being able to
buy or sell without the mark of the Beast, etc. Christians who do not take the mark will not be able to
be legally employed, pay taxes on their property, buy automobile tags, gasoline, food, or anything
else.) Christians during the Great Tribulation will be like those saints of the Old Dispensation
mentioned in the Book of Hebrews. They "were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might
obtain a better resurrection: and others had trials of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, moreover of
bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with
the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of
whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves
of the earth" - (Heb. 11:35-38).
In Revelation 6:9-11 it says, "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of
them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held....And white robes
were given unto every one of them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. In the next
WHY DO I BELIEVE THIS WAY
Persecution and martyrdom is the New Testament norm. Jesus said to His disciples, "If ye were of the
world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out
of the world, therefore the world hateth you....The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have
persecuted me, they will also persecute you...." - (Jn. 15:19-20). Peter wrote, "For even hereunto were
ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (1 Pet. 2:21). And Paul wrote, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution" - (2 Tim. 3:12).
According to Church history all the Apostles suffered martyrdom except John who was banished to the
Isle of Patmos. The apostles were thrown into prison time and again during their ministry, and suffered
beatings and other persecution (Acts 5:40; 16:23; 2 Cor. 11:25; et al.). Paul was in and out of jail,
suffered beatings and was incarcerated, under house-arrest, for two years (Acts 28:30) before his
martyrdom.
We are not experiencing persecution in America, not because Satan has changed his strategy, but
because the saints have changed theirs. Most Christians in this country have not been endued with
power from On High and are not proclaiming a scriptural evangelistic message which includes
remission of sins and repentance (Lk. 13:3-5; 24:47; Mk. 1:15; 6:12; Acts 3:19; 17:30; 26:19-20; 2
Pet. 3:9).
Most evangelistic messages are watered-down, easy-believism, half-truths that omit the need for
repentance. (Look at the Gospel tracts in the tract rack at bookstores and in your church building, or
listen to your pastor preach an evangelistic message or give "an invitation" to see if you can even find
or hear the word "repent" or "repentance" mentioned.
Some church leaders teach that believing in an imminent pre-trib. rapture will influence Christians to
live holy lives. But the Scriptures teach, referring to the heavens and earth being destroyed by fire,
"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye [the saints] to be
in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,
wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat?....Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of
him in peace, without spot, and blameless" - (2 Pet. 3:11-14).
There has never been a time when so many Christians believed in an imminent pre-trib. rapture and
yet the twentieth-century church in America can be characterized by almost anything but holiness.
(With all the filth of the television programs and cheap output of the press brought into our homes,
divorce, the worldly dress and sports activities, ad nauseam.) Most Christians in America live and look
too much like worldlings; there is no contrast, therefore in many cases there is no conviction brought
about by the Holy Spirit in the lives of the lost.
Paul said, "...We glory in tribulations (thlipsis) also: knowing that tribulation (thlipsis) worketh
patience" - (Rom. 5:3). This is the same Greek word used in Revelation when John saw a great
multitude in white robes and one of the elders around the throne said, "These are they which came out
of [the] great tribulation (thlipsis)...." - (7:9, 13-14). The Greek noun thlipsis was also used in Acts
11:19 concerning the persecution of the Church at the time of Stephen's martyrdom and is rendered
"persecution."
"In the world ye shall have tribulation...." - (John 16:33). "...We must through much tribulation enter
into the kingdom of God" - (Acts 4:22). "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness'
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute
you...for my sake....Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so
persecuted they the prophets which were before you" - (Mt. 5:10-12).
Tribulation and persecution is not the wrath of God. Again, persecution and martyrdom is the New
Testament norm. The wrath of God that Christians will be kept from is the wrath of the last day and, of
WHERE ARE WE NOW IN THE TIMEFRAME
According to the Scriptures there must come a falling away before the rapture of the saints. Never in
the history of the Church has there been such a falling away from the truths of God's Word. With all
the signs prevalent throughout the world---sin, lawlessness and violence as it was in the days of Noah,
with the technology available to implement a "mark of the beast," and the global movement toward a
one-world government to name just a few---it doesn't take much discernment to know that we are
living in the very last of the last days before the Great Tribulation.
POSITION
AUTHOR
e-mail
PRE-TRIBULATION
Allen Beechick
beechick@jps.net
MAIN VERSE
Revelation 3:10 says, "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from
[out] the hour of temptation [testing], which shall come upon all the world, to try [test] them that dwell
upon the earth."
What could be clearer than that? It doesn't say "take out." No, "take out" and "keep out" have entirely
different meanings. It doesn't say "keep in." No, "keep in" and "keep out" have entirely different
meanings. It doesn't say "keep in and take out." No, it takes twice as many words to express those two
distinct ideas. God chose this simple word combination to communicate as clearly as possible.
Some say this means believers are protected during testing instead of from testing. But I answer,
protected from what? Believers during that time are killed, not kept. (Revelation 6:9, 13:7)
Let's think deeper. The reason for the promise illuminates the purpose of the promise. The reason
("because you have already demonstrated patience in testing") prompts the purpose ("I will keep you
from further testing"). Is God saying, "Since you have shown patience, I will now give you a bigger
test?" No, He is saying, "You have already passed the test. Congratulations!" You have shown
patience, haven't you? You have leaned on God's Word during testing, haven't you? Then this promise
is for you.
SUPPORTING VERSES
First, the known day and the unknown day cannot be the same day.
"But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matthew
25:36).
"In such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes" (Matthew 25:44). In contrast to the unknown
day, we also read about a known day. The 1260 days of Revelation 12:6 coincides with the 42 months
of Revelation 13:5 and the three and one-half years of Revelation 12:14. The same time span is stated
in three ways, days, months, and years. There's no mistaking it. This clearly stated time span begins at
the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15-16), and it ends at the return of Christ (Revelation
19:20).
The known day and the unknown day must be different days. The rapture cannot occur on the known
day. It's not just the day that's unknown. The general time period is unknown. Matthew 24:44 says,
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. "Also Mark
13:33 says, "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." The word "time" there
means "season." That's why Jesus urged His disciples to be ready continually, not wait to get ready.
Second, at the end of the age the unbelievers are taken first. Matthew 13 reads:
"In the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the tares.... the harvest is the end
of the world.... As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of
this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all
things that offend, and them which do iniquity.... So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall
come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just." Does it say, "Separate the wheat from the
tares?" No, it says, "Separate the tares from the wheat." The order of gatherings at this time is opposite
to the rapture.
Third, those taken on that day end up as corpses for vultures to feed on. Luke 17 reads: "I tell you, in
that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two
women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the
field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord?
And He said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together." "Eagles"
is better translated "vultures." "Body" means "corpse" according to the parallel passage Matthew
24:28. So those taken on that day end up as corpses for vultures to feed on. Is that the rapture? No,
believers have a different destiny.
Fourth, if all unbelievers are destroyed, then who will populate the millennium? Many passages teach
that no unbelievers survive the tribulation. Luke 17 reads: "[Noah] entered into the ark, and the flood
came, and destroyed them all. ... the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone
from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is
revealed." Matthew 13 reads: "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of
his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity." First Thessalonians five reads: "For
when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a
woman with child; and they shall not escape." [strong dual negative in the Greek] Second
Thessalonians one reads: "When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ ... That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness." Malachi 4 reads: "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all
the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up,
saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." Now consider this. If believers
receive glorified bodies at the rapture, and if all unbelievers are destroyed after the tribulation, then
who will populate the millennium in natural bodies? A rapture at the end of the tribulation doesn't fit.
Fifth, by Revelation 19, the wife is already ready. Revelation 19 says: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and
WHY DO I BELIEVE THIS WAY
I believe in the pre-tribulation rapture for different reasons than the typical pre-tribulationist. Although
we share the same principles of interpretation, understanding the words of the Bible in their normal
sense, and letting the context explain the meaning, I think taking these basic principles of
interpretation to their full and logical conclusion, letting go of pre-conceived notions, letting Scripture
speak for itself, we discover a harmony beyond expectation.
WHERE ARE WE NOW IN THE TIMEFRAME
We are in the church age, before the tribulation, before the 70th week of Daniel. Jesus places the
tribulation immediately before His coming (Matthew 24:29). That puts it future, not past.
Paul places the revealing of the man of sin in the future. Since the man of sin will be destroyed by
Christ at His coming, those events are future (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).
POSITION
AUTHOR
e-mail
A-MILLENNIAL
Gerald Boyer
omifren@zoominternet.net
MAIN VERSE
I believe the a-millennial concept is based upon prophecy; therefore, I submit this scripture as a sure
foundation... Deuteronomy 18:20-23
"But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him
to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in
thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh
in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath
not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him"
The Lord confirms WHAT PROPHECY IS! through these scriptures. The prophecy of the book of
Revelation follows these guidelines. It is my studied opinion that the a-millennial concept is
scripturally sound, because it presents those things that have come to pass. If the Divine key of
symbolic language is properly used, this prophecy relates the historic trace of Christianity. It speaks of
the events of the birth of the church, the conflicts she fought against Paganism, and the Apostasy that
formed through the "Dark-Age period." This prophecy reveals the triumph of the true church as She
came forth through Protestantism and then shows forth Her glory again at the end of time as She was
in Her 1st. century glory. The a-millennial view presents the historical trace of Christianity which
HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE, and therefore can be termed, I believe, the "More sure word of
prophecy."
SUPPORTING VERSES
(2 Peter 1:19-21) "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take
heed, as unto a light that shinneth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your
hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by
the Holy Ghost."
According to Deut. 18: 20-23, Daniel's 70th week CANNOT BE in the future. If this WERE TRUE,
then Daniel would be considered a "false prophet." Christ Himself said, all things concerning His
birth, life, death and resurrection had been FULFILLED! Let us consider this message in support of
our a-millennial position. The scriptures say, "Seventy Weeks are DETERMINED."
This period is composed of seven weeks, during which the city of Jerusalem is restored. Then, a
period of 434 years (62 weeks symbolically) elapse until the baptism of Christ. The baptism of Christ
is established because He is referred to as Messiah, the Prince, in other words, the Anointed One.
There remained but one week, the seventieth, during which the ministry of Christ is executed, and
during which time He is cut off in the midst (NOT MIDDLE) of the week. It is generally established
that Christ ministered three and one half years before His crucifixion, when He was cut off. The
remaining three and one half years was the period of time when the gospel was proclaimed to the
Jews, ending with Peter's Divinely guided mission to the house of Cornelius who was the first Gentile
to embrace salvation. Further, the duration of the Covenant was not limited to one week, but was
ratified during that one week of prophecy. Its duration was, and is ENDLESS!
This is the NEW and EVERLASTING Covenant.
1. Christ did make an end of sins!
2. Christ did make reconciliation for iniquity!
3. Christ did bring in everlasting righteousness!
4. The Old Testament lived in prophecy.
5. The New Testament lives in history.
Christ FULFILLED ALL the prophecies at His first coming, and that He was the embodiment of ALL
that had been promised through the prophets from the beginning of time. I believe Christ DID set up
His Kingdom when He entered into the world the first time. On the cross, He cried out, "IT IS
FINISHED!" Christ did NOT fail to accomplish what He came to do just because the Jews refused
Him as the Messiah. To infer that Christ has to come back and 'do the thing all over again,' is a denial
of all the prophesies that proclaimed His reason for coming into the world.
As it is written: Christ came into this world to, "SAVE MEN FROM THEIR SINS;" not to set up a
literal kingdom on this earth for the Jews or any one else. The interpretation of the Revelation
prophecy has been determined through symbolic understanding which God gave to those holy men of
old, by Divine inspiration. Daniel gives us the keys to understanding these symbols. The a-millennial
concept which I believe, simply follows these guidelines.
WHY DO I BELIEVE THIS WAY
I believe the a-millennial concept because of the previously mentioned scriptural facts concerning
God's format for prophetic truth. The historical events have followed as the symbolic truth has
revealed, and these events continue to be fulfilled. I believe the important and vital "link" of the
transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, has been 'passed over' by those who present
'another age to come.' The entire book of Hebrews declares that the Old Covenant has been abolished!
If the ninth chapter of Hebrews were read and accepted by the adherents of Pre-Post and 'other'
millennialists, I believe this truth would resolve the issue of a "Postponed" kingdom.
WHERE ARE WE NOW IN THE TIME LINE
I believe we are in the "Evening Time" of the gospel day.
The 7th and final sealed scroll HAS BEEN OPENED, according to the Revelation prophecy.
Zechariah wrote of this time. "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor
dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but IT SHALL
COME TO PASS, THAT AT EVENING TIME IT SHALL BE LIGHT." (Zech.14:6-9)
The Revelation prophecy speaks of the confused state of religions that have claimed to be
Christianity...some clear, not all darkness. Perhaps the reason the early church is called the "morning
time" church is because it's glory was so short lived. According to historians and the prophetic Word
of God, the Pristine glory of that infant church only lasted until the latter part of the second century. I
believe the symbolic teaching of this book of Revelation portrays the "Dark Ages" as the long day of
darkness when the Popes and the Roman Catholic Church reigned over the entire world. The Bible
was taken from the common man and relegated to the Priests. The 16th century then brought forth
some Light as Protestantism came forth. I believe this was the fulfillment of Zachariah's prophecy
when he said, "That light shall not be clear, nor dark."
On the prophetic time table, God began His "Final Restoration" in the latter part of the 18th. Century.
This event, is revealed in the 6th sealed scroll message. According to the symbols, this "Final
Restoration," will continue until ALL God's people have heard the call to, "Come out of Spiritual
Babylon." According to the symbolic understanding that God has given, Babylon represents the
religions that men's traditions have devised. All these events follow in a chronological order and
therefore can be accepted as the fulfillment of God's true prophecy.
This "Final Restoration," that Christians are engaged in these last days, I believe, to be the fulfillment
of that which the Lord spoke to Zechariah when he wrote: "At evening time it shall be light." The
LIGHT has come forth and is shining brighter and brighter as the Lord draws nigh. The Bible is now
available to FREE "whosoever will hear" what the Word of God says, rather than the traditional
religions of men. Rev. 15:1-5, declares this final restoration of God's redeemed people. They had
gotten the victory over the Dragon (Paganism) over the beast (Catholicism) and over his image
(Protestantism) and over his mark, and over the number of his name. I BELIEVE THEY WERE
SINGING THEIR SONG OF DELIVERANCE FROM ALL THE IMAGES OF MEN'S RELIGIONS.
The three unclean spirits and their deeds of deception are evident in these closing chapters of history,
as we see paganism on the rise through eastern religions, cults and Satanism. The Apostate religion
God has identified as "The Great Harlot" is being revived through the Pope's worlds acceptance of him
as a great Potentate. Protestantism is overflowing with the New Age philosophy. These things have
come to pass! This is how we may know the certainty of this Revelation prophecy. (Rev. 16:12-17).
Armageddon will NOT BE a literal battle fought on a foreign land! Armageddon is a "Spiritual battle"
in which all Christians are NOW being inducted into. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places."(Eph.6:12) We are called upon to reprove and rebuke the False teachings
that abound in so-called Christianity.