COMPARISON OF ESCHATOLOGICAL POSITIONS

VIEW DISPENSATIONALISM PREMILLENNIALISMHERMENEUTICS 1. Bible is divided into

dispensations or time periods in which God acts in different ways with man, including the way in which He saves them.

2. Interpret the New Testament by the Old Testament.

1. Natural reading of the book of Revelation.

2. The context determines whether or not the passage is to be taken literal or figurative.

3. Interpret the Old Testament by the New Testament.

HISTORY Began around 1830 with the Brethren Movement and Darby. Today this is probably the most widely taught and widely believed view of Eschatology.

Iraenus (140 – 203 AD) and Justin Martyr (100 – 165 AD) both held the view that there would be a visible kingdom of God on earth after Christ’s return. This view was largely abandoned by 400 AD and not picked up again until the 16th century by the Anabaptists.

RESURECTION At least 4 resurrections.1. At the rapture (1st Thess.

4:16)2. Tribulation Saints at the

beginning of the millennium (Rev. 20:4)

3. Other saints after the millennium (1st Cor. 15:23)

4. Resurrection of the wicked (Rev. 20:11)

2 Resurrections – first of saints before the millennium, then of everyone else after the millennium (Revelation 20)

JUDGMENT Three Judgments1. First of raptured

believers (1st Cor. 3:13)2. The nations (Matt.

19:28)3. The wicked (Rev. 20:15)

One judgment at the end(Rev. 22:12; Matt. 16:27, 25:31; Jude 14; 2nd Thess. 1:7)

ISRAEL & THE CHURCH

God has two redemptive plans, one for the nation of Israel and one for the church. Israel’s rejection of Christ brought about a temporary suspension of the kingdom, but this will resume after the rapture when all Israel will be saved.

God has two redemptive plans, one for the nation of Israel and one for the church. Israel’s rejection of Christ brought about a temporary suspension of the kingdom, but this will resume after the rapture when all Israel will be saved.

RAPTURE The rapture takes place before the revealing of Anti-Christ and the tribulation begins. See Resurrection above.

The rapture takes place before the millennium.See Resurrection above.

VIEW AMILLENNIALISM POSTMILLENNIALISMHERMENEUTICS 1. Context determines

whether to be read literal or figurative.

2. Parallelism or Pretorist interpretation of Revelation.

3. Interpret the Old Testament by the New Testament.

1. Revelation seen as mostly figurative or as fulfilled prophecy (ie in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem).

2. Context determines interpretation.

3. Old Testament interpreted by the New.

HISTORY Position held by the majority of Christians until the late 1940’s. It must be noted that Amillennialism is for the most part the same as Postmillennialism, and comes from Postmillennialism, with the difference being between the character and length of the millennial age.Amillennialsts see the millennium as figurative and as occupying the times between the 1st and 2nd Advents.

Position held by the majority of Christians until the late 1940’s. It must be noted that Amillennialism is for the most part the same as postmillennialism with the difference being between the character and length of the millennial age.Postmillennialists see the millennium as commencing at some point during the present age and as a period where the kingdom of God triumphs over the kingdom of the world in a more physical sense.

RESURRECTION 1 Resurrection of all the dead as per John 5:28; Acts 24:15 1 Resurrection of all the dead as

per John 5:28; Acts 24:15

JUDGMENT One judgment at the end(Rev. 22:12; Matt. 16:27, 25:31; Jude 14; 2nd Thess. 1:7)

One judgment at the end(Rev. 22:12; Matt. 16:27, 25:31; Jude 14; 2nd Thess. 1:7)

ISRAEL & THE CHURCH

O.T. Israel is the nation, N.T. Israel is the church (Romans 2:4 and Gal. 3). Throughout history God has saved all men, be they Israeli or Gentile in one way – by grace through faith, (Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 11).

O.T. Israel is the nation, N.T. Israel is the church (Romans 2:4 and Gal. 3). Throughout history God has saved all men, be they Israeli or Gentile in one way – by grace through faith, (Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 11).

RAPTURE The rapture takes place after Anti-Christ is revealed and directly before Christ returns.

The rapture takes place after Anti-Christ is revealed and directly before Christ returns.