The Aaron Papers  www.the-aaron-papers.net 

SECTION 2

-ESCHATOLOGY OVERVIEW-

POSTMILLENNIAL / TRIBULATIONAL UNDERSTANDINGS AND PROBLEMS

(Includes A-millennial, and Dominion Theology)

Part one  —  POSTMILLENNIAL/A-MILLENNIAL OVERVIEW

BEFORE commenting on the Post-mill /trib theology, I would like to present this comparative observation concerning the Pre-mill /trib eschatology and the Post-mill /trib eschatology:

Both the Pre-mill /trib and the Post-mill /trib views appear to be extreme:

(A) Little or nothing has yet happened in prophecy in the Pre-mill /trib theology.

(B) Nearly everything has already happened in prophecy in the Post-mill /trib theology.

Then within these two points of view, we find the Pre-mills being accused of escapism by the Post-mills, because they rapture the Christian Church before the period of time that they call “The Great Tribulation”.  While the theology of the Post-mills would have all of the events that the Per-mills term The Great Tribulation already fulfilled. 

Conclusion: Neither group has its members going through this so-called "Great Tribulation period".

The Pre-mills have the Christian Church being raptured, seven years of Great Tribulation, and then one thousand years of millennial bliss.  While the Post-mill teachings imply that the Christian Church will bring about a time upon the earth that sounds allot like a millennium—a golden age. 

It would appear that there are two central problems to resolve within these two eschatological views:

1. The interpretation of the Great tribulation period.

2. The time of the resurrection for the hidden Christian Church.

And we must attempt to find that common ground that exists between these two views.

The Post-mill /tribs think of themselves as being more optimistic and more evangelical than most other groups.  They may use buzzwords when speaking about these other groups: Calling them pessimists, who are nothing but eschatological defeatist.

One key to understanding the Post-mill /trib theology, is to understand their interpretation of "THIS GENERATION" as the generation of the first century: And that most prophecy was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD: Their interpreted Great tribulation—Mat.24.

Though the Post-mill /trib view may, in the broader sense, be more scripturally correct than that which is held by the Pre-mill /tribs—By combining all of the end time events which are found in the book of Revelation into one single event, they have opened themselves to some well-founded criticism that they spiritualize the Scriptures.  Consequently, they are undermining any legitimate truths that they might hold.  Far to many events are pictured in the New Testament, especially in the book of Revelation, just to lump them all together into one single event and ignore the specific promises.

If we receive clear passages like 2Pe.3:1-14 literally (as it is given) we will understand it as pointing to the climax of the universe that we presently see, and not the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. 

And then understand the new heavens and new earth as the literal new heavens and new earth, and not the dissolution of the Old Covenant world order and the establishment of the new order—the Christian Church age.

The Post-mill /trib theology would suggest that the seven last plagues of God's wrath (Rev.15:1-16:21) are not the seven last plagues in which God's wrath is complete: But comprise the final outpouring of God's wrath—His great cosmic judgment against Jerusalem—abolishing the Old Covenant world order.  They would suppose paradise in salvation—a cosmic restoration that has already begun.

Some noteworthy points in the Post-mill /trib theology:

1. Their new creation will fill the earth—the whole creation will be renewed.

2. Man must conform to the revealed law or to the works of the law in their hearts.

3. They would say that those who are baptized Christian Church members professing Christ, represent those who are in the Book of Life.

4. The mystery of God is only the preaching of the gospel, which I would partially agree with.  But they would also say its finish is when we reach their supposed golden age.

5. Ref. Rev.11:18c: They would interpret the time for the dead to be judged, as the time for the dead to be vindicated.

6. ?? The great multitude in heaven (Rev.7:13-17) would assimilate with this generation: pointing to 70 AD.

7. The tribulation suffered by the first century Christian Church was not a death, but a birth. (Mat.24:8)  The prelude to the establishment of the worldwide kingdom of Christ (the golden age).

8. Ref. 2Thes.2:3 and 4: they have interpreted Caesar as the man of sin, the son of destruction.

9. They would say that all Old Testament saints are classified as Christians.

10. The Postmillennial rapture allows for Christianity dominion (the golden age).

11. The new heavens and new earth do not mean new heavens and new earth: But is symbolic and is associated with salvation.  The golden age would be its culmination.

12. ?? The Bridegroom cannot come until the bride has made herself ready.

The Amillennialists view is much simpler an less radical than that held by the Postmillennialist.

Amillennialism:

1. There will be a progressive maturation of good and evil in the world.

2. The Christian Church will have tribulation with eventual great apostasy.

3. There will be no specific signs of Christ's return.

4. That Christ will return and resurrect all peoples at the same time.

5. The general judgment will follow.

6. The new heavens and new earth will appear and abide forever.

The one area in which I would disagree with the A-mills, is associated with the general resurrection.  I believe that the bible gives us clear revelation for a separate resurrection promised for the hidden elect priesthood—including the elect priests from this dispensation (1Thes.4:15-17; Mat.24:31; Mk.13:27; and 1Cor.15:52): When sleeping saints shall rise FIRST, and the living saints shall be changed.  And together, being caught up into the air to meet Jesus in the clouds—and so shall we be with Jesus forever: The resurrection and translation of those who were elected during this dispensation of grace-as well as those sleeping saints from the past (Rev.6:9).  This event is necessary for the fulfillment of the promise made in Rev.3:10 (Ref.1Thes.5:9) to the Christian Church of Philadelphia—God is speaking—"I also will keep you from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole inhabited world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."  This trial would culminate with the pouring out of the seven last plagues of God's wrath (Rev.15:1-16:21).  This translated priesthood does in fact end up in the Heavenly Jerusalem as pictured in Rev.7:9-17.  Which allows for the literal fulfillment of Rev.19:1-10, Rev.21:, and Rev.22.  The marriage celebration which then takes place in the heavenly Kingdom and the subsequent descent of New Jerusalem; the Holy City—the bride, down to the new earth.

I would agree that the so-called millennial kingdom is the period of the gospel dispensation, the regeneration, and the Messianic Kingdom.  But this period cannot be a progressive new heavens and new earth before the rapture of the hidden priesthood (the gathering UP of the Kingdom).

Speculation is always speculation, not always truth. 

2Pe.1:20  "No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation."

The Post-mills admit that Mat.24:31; Mk.13:27; 1Thes.4:15-17; and 1Cor.15:52 are descriptions of a resurrection at the Second Coming: But choose rather to interpret Mat.24:31 and Mk.13:27 with the Jubilee.  There is no doubt that the year of Jubilee, as sighted by Jesus in Lu.4:17-21, is in fact the Christian Church age as we know it.  But to bend the interpretation of Mat.24 and Mk.13 to be representative of the Jubilee is pure SPECULATION.

The Post-mills would also interpret the regeneration of salvation as the first resurrection: The resurrection of the soul.  Which is another speculation: But this idea could contain a bit of truth: The regeneration of the soul allows Christians to “have a part in the first resurrection”—Jesus’ own resurrection.

Many Postmillennialist are theosophic symbolist. 

Symbol defined (Webster's): Something that stands for or represents another thing; especially an object used to represent something abstract.

It is true that the bible uses symbols.  But when we define nearly all bible prophecy symbolically, are we not guilty of some private interpretation?  Then we must keep in mind that no matter how much sense our interpretation of prophecy might make, a great deal of speculation is sometimes necessary in reaching many eschatological conclusions.  So no matter what our preferred outcome might be, we must always let the Scriptures interpret the Scriptures.

"We all believe what we believe, because that is what we believe."

                                              Herbert W. Armstrong     

   Amen.