Part one – PREMILLENNIAL OVERVIEW

THERE are some present denominations that continue to promote a distinction between the institutions of the Christian Church and the nations of Israel: Supposing that God is going to reinstate Israel at some future time.  They that hold this view, contend that the Scriptures never place the nations of Israel and the Gentiles nations under the same program.

Dr. Scofield, in his book - RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH, goes through an extensive exercise to show this distinction between the Christian Church and Israel: He attempts to show a distinction in the blessings that each should expect.  Dr. Scofield contends that Israel's blessings are earthly, and the blessings promised to the Christian Church are heavenly.  He uses:

Gen.12:1, Abraham was to leave his country.

Deut.8:7-9, That God would bring him into a good land.

Gen.24:34-35, Abraham was greatly blessed.

Deut.28:7, Israel had victory over all enemies.  And

Deut.28:13, Israel was head and over.

But Dr. Scofield has failed to include Scriptures like Heb.11:8-10: (By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed...)  By faith (Abraham) became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For (Abraham) looked for the city which (has) foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God.  And Heb.11:13-16: (All these died in faith, not receiving the promise...)  But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly (country): Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for He has prepared for them a city.  Scriptures which clearly contradict Dr. Scofield's postulation on Israel’s blessings being “earthly”.      

Dr. Scofield concludes on p.8: “Of course, it is not meant that a godly Jew did not, at death, go to heaven.  The distinction is that the incentive to godliness in his case was earthly blessings, not heavenly.” 

This is absolutely contradictory to the Scriptures.

“It should be needless to say that, in this dispensation, neither Jew nor Gentile can be saved otherwise than by the exercise of that faith on Jesus Christ, whereby both are born again.”

Here, I would add—And by the grace of our Lord God, and partially agree with Dr. Scofield on this point.

Those who hold this view of distinguishing between the institutions of the Christian Church and Israel, are simply trying to view the Christian Church through the New Testament and Israel through the Old Testament.  And what would we expect to find in the Old Testament, but a nation, Israel, initially separated from all of the other nations.  The examples they use to prove this distinction are nothing more than Old Testament facts.

Dr. Walvoord, in his book - THE RAPTURE QUESTION, defines the Premill /Pretrib system (RQ p.19):

“The premillennial system of interpretation has especially relied upon a proper (should read particular) understanding of the doctrine of the Christian Church as a body distinct from Israel and from saints in general.  What is essential to premillennialism becomes an indispensable foundation in the study of pretribulationism.” 

“It is safe to say that pretribulationism depends upon a particular definition of the Christian Church, and any consideration of pretribulationism which does not take this major factor into consideration will be largely beside the point.  To a large extent, premillennialism is dependent upon the definition of the Christian Church.” (RQ pp.16 and 17)

The above serves not only to divide Israel from the Christian Church, it also divides the Christian Church within itself.  This teaching goes directly against the clear biblical teaching of the complete unity in the Body of Christ: Then this teaching greatly diminishes the complete work of the cross of Christ as well.

Dr. Scofield continues: “The contrast between Israel and the Christian Church further appears in the rules given for the conduct of each: ISRAEL: When God shall bring you into the land where you go to possess it, and has cast out many nations before you...  You shall strike them and utterly destroy them: You shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them. (Deut.7:1-2)   Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” (Ex.21:24-25)

These comparative examples given by Dr. Scofield are completely inappropriate: These examples given in Ex.21:24-25 represent the punishments for transgressing the law.  God's desire for His people in the Old Testament was exactly the same as His desire is for His people in the New Testament.  Lev.19:18—You shall not take vengeance nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am God.  The change in God's program which made this policy of love your neighbor as yourself expand, was the change in God's salvation program: All nations are now included within His reconciliation.  What we see happening here, is simply God’s revealed open door policy.  It is also imperative that we see these Old Testament peoples of God in their proper context—they were God’s first established examples set forth for our understanding.

Those holding the Premillennial /Pretribulational view imply by their teaching, an incomplete work with respect to the cross of Christ. 

Dr. Scofield writes: “But the Jews would not receive their King in the form in which He was presented, meek and sitting upon an ass and they crucified Him.  But we must not conclude that the wickedness of man has baffled the deliberate purpose of God, for His counsel includes a second advent of His Son, when Christ's earthly glory will receive the same precise and literal fulfillment as did those which concerned His earthly sufferings.”

“Dr. Walvoord writes: Israel's hope is the second advent of Christ: the coming of Christ as King and Christ.”

There is no Scripture in the entire Bible that would even begin to suggest that Christ would come to Israel a second time.  We are not talking about the Second Coming of the Lord, but we are talking about a Second Coming of CHRIST.  This teaching keeps the nations of Israel blind and walking in darkness.  2Cor.3:12-16—“Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, and are not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away: But their minds were hardened: For until this very day at the reading of the Old Covenant the same veil remains, it not being revealed to them that it (the Old Covenant) is done away in Christ.  But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their heart.  But whensoever (a man shall turn) to Christ, the veil is taken away.  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to them that (are perishing): In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving...”  2Cor.4:3,4

It is high time for Israel to be told the complete truth.  Their Christ came for them approximately two thousand years ago: He came in the person of Jesus Christ.  To place the house of Israel and Judah back under the Old Covenant, dishonors the cross of Christ and does a great disservice to visible Israel and Judah: Keeping the veil upon their hearts.

Dr. Walvoord gives the Premill /Pretrib's definition of the Christian Church age: “Generally speaking, however, those who distinguish clearly between the Christian Church and Israel have recognized the present time as an unexpected and unpredicted parenthesis as far as the Old Testament prophecy is concerned. (RQ p.23)  The Christian Church as the body of Christ is therefore a new entity.”

The Premill /Pretrib's consideration of the Christian Church as the body of Christ and as a new entity, is in essence, saying—the Christian Church age has come into existence only because of Israel's refusal to receive Jesus as their Christ.  Because of this rebellion on the part of physical Israel, God was required to bring into existence this new organism that He called the Christian Church.  An unexpected and unpredicted parenthesis as far as Old Testament prophecy is concerned.  It would appear, according to the Premill /Pretrib interpretation, that God was caught off guard.  The Premill /Pretrib's interpretation of the Christian Church as a body distinct from Israel is their own speculative interpretation, and there is NO Scripture in the entire Bible that would directly support this dubious explication.

The teaching of a time for salvation after the pre-Armageddon gathering of the hidden priesthood is of major concern.  This is a doctrine that continues to be widely taught in a number of denominations.  One will find a great deal of literature in circulation from every media source espousing this fallacy.  For example, the movie video "The Day After"; or, If you find this tract after the rapture of the Christian Church, you still have an opportunity to trust in Jesus and be saved during this time of trouble—the Great Tribulation.  As we have stated early on—the teaching of a time for salvation after the hidden priesthood is taken up into heaven, is basically teaching another salvation: Which is an extremely serious matter.  As the Scriptures clearly prove this teaching wrong, it must be called a most grievous error.  Again, NO SCRIPTURE FROM THE ENTIRE BIBLE CAN BE OFFERED THAT WOULD DIRECTLY SUPPORT THIS TEACHING.  IT IS TOTAL SPECULATION!!!

The Premill /Pretrib's claim to have the truth in Scripture: And they claim that their understanding comes from a literal interpretation of the Scriptures.  While the Premill /Pretrib's interpretation is impressive, with its seven dispensations, two advents, two resurrections, and five judgments, it is without the necessary basic biblical support.  The lack of solid scriptural witness for their futuristic theology, does subsequently dictate that they fabricate their own interpretation.  This fact is clearly evident by the differing views held by the various Premill /Pretrib groups. 

One example of their differing views would be the hundred and forty-four thousand saints of Rev.14.  Are they in heaven, or are they upon the earth?  Many Premill /Pretribs, but not all, believe this picture is an earthly picture.  The Mt. Zion that is pictured here in Rev.14 is most likely in heaven. These differing views would also extend to many other areas of eschatology. Their lack of agreement reveals some lack in understanding.  MILLENNIALISM IS A DOCTRINE BUILT UPON SAND!   THE PREMILL /PRETRIB DOCTRINE IS BASED COMPLETELY ON SPECULATION SUPPORTED BY SPECULATION, RESULTING IN THEIR TRUTH.  Without a second witness, how can we say "Thus says God"?  2Cor.13:1 – “At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word be established.”  1Thes.5:21 tells us to "prove all things".  Their futuristic interpretation of Scripture requires much duplication, and therein lays the problem.  It appears their understanding dictates their interpretation, instead of their understanding being the result of their interpretation.

                                                             -Amen-