Premillennialism is a theory that dishonors God and undermines faith in Him. At its heart is the idea that God was unable to do what He intended to do at the first coming of Christ. It tosses the minds of men about and breeds anxiety and uncertainty.
The Bible presents a different picture about God’s plan. Jesus sacrificed Himself for the church as part of God’s eternal purpose (Eph. 5:25; 3:9-11). He will come back in Judgment (2 Pet. 3:9-13). Hence, we must live faithfully (2 Pet. 3:14-18).
This lesson will expose three falsehoods promoted by Premillennialists: the Last Days, the Rapture, and the Tribulation.
2. Wicked raised
Christ returns Wicked – hell
Righteous - heaven
Paradise
Tribulation 1,000 years of peace
Church est. Battle of Armageddon
instead RAPTURE Resurrection of trib. Saints
Christ to est. kingdom Judgment of saints
Rejected by Jews Kingdom est. in Jerusalem
Jews converted
Satan bound
3. Christ sacrificed
For the Church
Eph. 5:25
Live faithfully 2 Pet. 3:14-18
Christ returns
Church built Dead raised
according to Judgment
God’s eternal purpose Eternity
Eph. 3:9-11 2 Pet. 3:9-13
4. Premillennialism states the Last Days
are yet in our future
✶ Filled with tribulation
✶ Preceded by signs
▴ War
▴ Earthquake
▴ Tsunami
5. Scriptural doctrine of the Last Days
-Started about 2,000 years ago
✶ Joel & Peter, Acts 2:16-21
✶ Paul & John, 1 Tim. 4:1, 2; 1 Jn. 4:1-6
✶ Hebrews 1:1, 2
▴ War
▴ Earthquake
▴ Tsunami
6. Scriptural doctrine of the Last Days
-Started about 2,000 years ago
Patriarch Days Mosaic Days Gospel Days
Beginning Middle End
Time Time Time
1st 2nd Last
7. Translation of the church
✶ “The present age, in respect to the church,
terminates with the translation of the church
into the Lord’s presence”
- J. Dwight Pentecost, Things To Come
8. Translation of the church
✶ “The doctrine of translation of the church
is one of the major considerations
of the Eschatology of the New Testament
(…1 Thess. 4:13-18…)”
- J. Dwight Pentecost, Things To Come
9. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
✶ Some asleep in Jesus
✶ Jesus to return with them
✶ Living will not hinder the dead
✶ Dead in Christ rise first
✶ Living join them in the clouds
10. Wicked raised
Christ returns Wicked – hell
Righteous - heaven
Paradise
Tribulation 1,000 years of peace
7 YEARS
Church est. Battle of Armageddon
instead RAPTURE Resurrection of trib. Saints
ChristQuiet & unknown VS. Shout, voice, trumpet – 1 of saints
to est. kingdom Judgment
Thes. 4:16
Rejected by Jews Kingdom est. in Jerusalem
Jews converted
Satan bound
11. Wicked raised
Christ returns Wicked – hell
Righteous - heaven
Paradise
Tribulation 1,000 years of peace
7 YEARS
Church est. Battle of Armageddon
instead RAPTURE Resurrection of trib. Saints
Judgment of saints
Christ to est.comings VS. that “day” 1 Thes. 5:1-4; 2 Thes. 1:6-10
kingdom
Separate Kingdom est. in Jerusalem
Rejected by Jews
Jews converted
Satan bound
12. Wicked raised
Christ returns Wicked – hell
Righteous - heaven
Paradise
Tribulation 1,000 years of peace
7 YEARS
Church est. Battle of Armageddon
instead RAPTURE Resurrection of trib. Saints
Christ to est. kingdom years apart VS. same hour, Jn. saints29
Resurrections 1,007
Judgment of
Rejected by Jews Kingdom est. 5:28,
in Jerusalem
Jews converted
Satan bound
13. Wicked raised
Christ returns Wicked – hell
Righteous - heaven
Paradise
Tribulation 1,000 years of peace
7 YEARS
Church est. Battle of Armageddon
instead RAPTURE Resurrection of trib. Saints
Christ to est. kingdom VS. with the Lord Judgment of saints
7 years in “rapture”
Rejected by Jews Kingdom1 Thes. Jerusalem
forever, est. in 4:17
Jews converted
Satan bound
14. Silence of Epistles on the tribulation
✶ “Not only is there no syllable of Scripture
which affirms that the church
will enter the great tribulation,
but *the Lord+ nor the epistles…
so much as mention the great tribulation”
- J. Dwight Pentecost, Things To Come
15. Tribulation for whom? Mt. 24:21
✶ Matthew 24 for the disciples
▴ Tribulation facing saints, Mt. 24:1, 3, 9
▴ Localized in Judea, Mt. 24:16
▴ Faithful to flee, Mt. 24:16
16. What does Matthew 24 teach?
✶ Three questions, Mt. 24:1-3
▴ When will these things be?
▴ What will be the sign of Your coming?
▴ What will be the sign…
of the end of the age?
17. What does Matthew 24 teach?
✶ First two answered in 24:4-35
▴ Judgment against Jews
▴ Rome to destroy Jerusalem, Lk. 21:20-24
▴ Temple destroyed
▴ That generation to see it, Mt. 24:33-35
18. What does Matthew 24 teach?
✶ Last question answered in 24:36-51
▴ No sign given, 24:37-39
▴ One taken, another left, 24:40, 41
See 1 Thes. 4:16, 17
Faithful & Unfaithful Separated
Faithful taken to heaven
Unfaithful banished to hell