THE WHY AND THE WHAT OF ESCHATOLOGICAL CONFUSION
Glenn Armstrong
Why am I writing this paper? Actually, I wish I felt no need to write this article. I am writing it because I see a major shift away from major Biblical truths. I see doctrine downgraded and whole associations redirected. I see compromise for convenience. I see confused congregations. I see leadership changing churches. I see Christians who are unconcerned. I see opposition to Biblical truth in otherwise gospel preaching churches. I see too many wanting too much and looking for churches that offer them everything. I see people profiting from error and entertainment replacing education. I see a whole generation that is with out a clue of what is theologically Christian. I see error piped into our people's home as truth, and I see anyone who attempts to correct the situation as considered a nuisance. I see outside personalities directing our churches and having more leadership than the pastors. I see other pastors who really don't care what feeds the people as long as there are enough nickels and noses in the plates and pews to keep the church functioning.
INTRODUCTION:
The real art of reasoning involves the ability to develop, ask and answer questions. This is never more needed than in the field of theology and specifically in the doctrine of eschatology, the study of end time events.
Q: Why is there so much confusion and conflict connected to the scriptural teaching of future events?
A: For most of my ministry the approach to eschatology was well understood and defined -- at least among the preaching, teaching, writing leadership of our schools and pulpits. The reason this understanding was often not shared with the real church, the people in the pews, was also understood. The leadership did not want the base of the church, the members, to know where the leadership was leading them.
THEOLOGICAL GROUPING:
Q: Where are believers currently being directed, consciously or unconsciously?
A: The flow of fellowship among church groups has been changing since the late 1940’s with the introduction of "new evangelicalism". When this theological system was consciously introduced it brought at least four major changes:
1. It taught infiltration rather than separation from theological error. 2. It brought in inclusive evangelicalism into Christianity rather than clear conversions to Christ.
3. It fought Christian fundamentalism as a foe rather than formalistic, liberal Christianity.
4. It sought to change the emphasis of Christianity from personal conversion to social redemption.
The flow of fellowship moved from believers who supported the historic fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith to programming that majored in the benefits of a "here and now" motivational ministries. One major doctrine of the biblical fundamentals of scripture that did not fit well into this new evangelical mold was futuristic fundamentalism, the teaching that the scriptures detail literal, earthly futuristic events that will most certainly happen in real places and at real times, as history moves forward. Here is a sample of the flow of fellowship among different theological groups:
(radical liberalism← liberalism←new-orthodoxy←new evangelicalism← fundamentalism- conservative fundamentalism- radical fundamentalism)
One important matter to observe in this flow of fellowship is that most of Christianity moved toward the radical liberalism. This has taken place almost without membership awareness or agreement. A second observation is that this vast movement to a theological liberalism left conservative fundamentalism to stand by itself. It cannot compromise for the sake of convenience nor can it unite with radical non-biblical fundamentalism.
Q: What areas of eschatology (future events) are being confused or denied?
A: The most common areas of biblical end time events being changed or challenged are:
1. dispensationalism
2. the rapture of the church
3. the reality of an antichrist
4. a worldwide tribulation period
5. the return and reign of Christ in an earthly 1,000 year kingdom.
These five items will make up the rest of this paper.
Q: Is there a reason given for rejecting these futuristic events?
A: The reason most often reported is that they are being rejected because they are one of several forms of biblical interpretations. Specifically, the events are said to be the result of the teaching of John Darby. While I know who John Darby was, I have never read one word of his writings. I certainly do not trace any of my fifty plus years of theological convictions to him. Darby (1800-1882) was born in
Q: Is dispensational theology Biblical?
A: I do not personally know anyone in the whole spread of Christendom who is not a dispensationalist! If a person when to a Christian church of any description last Sunday and did not take a chicken, goat, bull or bird with them to sacrifice then they are clearly a dispensationalist. By going without a sacrifice as might be required in Old Testament Judiasic worship they are practicing dispensational theology. They are stating that God's requirements on this side of
The word dispensation comes from the Greek word, "oikonomia" which joins two words for "management" and "house". When joined together it means "house rule", "house management" or "house stewardship". When used in a theological sense it means that God manages His people differently at different times. The word is used in I Corinthians 9:17 to show that the Apostle Paul was given a task of preaching the gospel. In Ephesians 1:10 the word is used to demonstrate that God purposed a change in His way of working to include Jews and Gentiles together in His grace as a church. The same use of the word is used again by Paul in Ephesians 3:2 to show that God is working through the church differently than through
Q: Is the teaching about the rapture of the church a Biblical truth?
A: Rapture truth is Bible truth from one end of the Bible to the other end. While the word rapture does not appear in scripture, the truth of the rapture is clearly taught. Rapture means to "catch up" as the following examples show.
1. Rapture of Enoch, Genesis 5:24
2. Rapture of Elijah, II Kings 2:11
3. Rapture of Jesus, Acts 1:9
4. Rapture of believers, I Thessalonians 4:17
5. Rapture of two powerful witnesses, Revelation 11:12
In each of the above texts a rapture is involved. Why current opposition continues to object to the rapture of the church is not hard to explain. It clearly does not fit their theological system that teaches the church will remain on earth and become the
1) literal, 2) earthly and 3) futuristic.
Q: Does the Bible teach that an anti-Christ person will have a role in world history?
A: The term anti-Christ appears five times in the scripture. Yet the concept of the anti-Christ is too numerous to consider in this short answer. The anti-Christ is referred to as a person as well as a worldwide program against Christ.
1. Anti-Christ, I John 2:18 is to be expected in the end times.
2. Anti-Christ, I John 2:22 is a liar who denies the deity of Jesus Christ and the reality of God the Father.
3. Anti-Christ, I John 4:3 denies that Jesus is come in the flesh as the incarnation of God. All who reject the incarnation are part of the anti-Christ program and oppose the gospel.
4. Anti-Christ, II John 4:7 is a deceiver and false teacher.
While the term "anti-Christ" is used only by the Apostle John, to show cosmic opposition to God through deceitful preaching and teaching, the anti-Christ as a person is also referred to with other names, such as, "The Man of Sin", "Son of Perdition", "The Lawless One", "The Lie", "The Anti-Christ", "King of Babylon", "The Little Horn", "The Willful King", "The Assyrian" and "the Beast". His worldwide powers will be shown through his intellect, flatteries, governmental, commercial, military, educational and financial control of the world. He will come on the scene as a peacemaker with a middle-east solution and will be accepted by many as the resurrected Christ. Only later will his peace plan turn to world opposition to God's right to govern the world. I really cannot see how anyone can overlook the teaching in the scriptures of a futuristic Anti-Christ's leadership in world events. Clearly, this person does not fit with the teaching that the church will produce and inherit a world of righteousness.
Q: Is there clear Biblical teaching about a tribulation period of time in human history?
A: When powerful preachers teach that the tribulation is what believers have always gone through, they are partially right, but still do great damage to the subject of the tribulation as a futuristic time in human history. One use of the term "tribulation" does refer to the persecution of believers, I Thessalonians 3:12, Colossians 1:24. While believers are still being persecuted in more than one-half of the world's population, it does not mean that any have gone through the tribulation period like that which is yet ahead.
A second use of the tribulation is not in reference to the church but to
Q: Does the Bible teach that Christ will return to establish a world kingdom of righteousness?
A: My guess is that about two-thirds of the Bible is in reference to a kingdom where God rules in forced righteousness. This is clearly the promise presented by the prophets. As already mentioned, this kingdom is often mistakenly presented as being fulfilled in the church. Both scripture and common sense teach that it is not the purpose of the church to usher in such a kingdom. Even if it were the purpose, it has not done so and is not powerful enough to accomplish such a task. In fact, all evidence demonstrates that world peace is not possible without God's intervention into human affairs to make it happen. A future righteous kingdom is taught throughout the scriptures. It is not the church. It is literal, not a spiritual kingdom. It is earthly, not heavenly. It is futuristic and not current.
Millennial Dispensationalism seems to make some see red! Why the opposition and anger at this teaching is beyond me. It is the Biblical hope for the world, the promise of a purified environment, an end to wars, international harmony, equality of economics, end to hunger and lawlessness, etc. What is wrong with having 1,000 years of peace, Revelation 21:107? Having Christ as King of His earth, Matthew 24, Zechariah 14:1-5? Peace in the
I wrote this paper because I have seen way too many preachers in tears as they watch their people move down the street to the "Madison Avenue" churches. Churches that major on tickling the ears of people, II Timothy 4: 3,4 and scoffing at the Lord's return and dispensational eschatology, Peter 3:3
I wrote this paper because I have seen too many tears in the eyes of way too many people in the pews who are seeing their churches change in ways they never expected and certainly never paid a lifetime to have take place.
I wrote this paper because it needs to be written. I am not a pessimist. I was born that way, but I was born again an optimist! People have asked me if I think I can do anything about the changes taking place? I sure can. I can trust God to bless the church that is faithful with a full congregation of people who are looking for a church that teaches truth separate from error. It may be harder than in the past to build such a church, but with God's blessing we sure will!
GAA/ April, 2007
