Blessed. a.Dispensationalist Premillennialism 1. Pretribulational Rapture in 17th and 18th Century England. Its the whole point of the beginning and the middle. Post-Millennialism, in stark contrast to Pre-Millennialism, believes that the Millennium occurs before Jesus' Second Coming rather than after. Not that they were the end, but they were the means to the end. Ive been putting an outline together in preparation for two talks I did for the December 1819 online A Purchased Victory: A Conference on the Bright Hope of Postmillennialism. My two talks deal with biblical and cultural impediments that are often raised against postmillennialism. He also spoke briefly about dispensationalism, but I am not going to cover that here, I got to run. His message in General Session 1 was entitled Why Every Self-Respecting Calvinist is Premillennial. God promised him the inheritance of the land. And again, I say, His election is divine, unilateral, unconditional and irrevocable. How could He hold them responsible for not believing? You get the interpretation of Scripture right when youre faithful to valid rules of interpretation. Highly acclaimed theologian Dr. Charles C. Ryrie addresses this crucial issue from the perspective of classic dispensationalism. Not one reference anywhere in Scripture - and there are over two thousand, referring to Israel - means anything other than Israel. And Im really grateful that the Spirit of God is moving the way He is these days, and moving in the church to reestablish the glorious high ground of the sovereignty of God in salvation. In keeping with his view of faith, MacArthur denigrates "facts," "doctrine," "intellectual assent," and so on. They are certainly available (or they should be) in the library at MacArthurs Masters Seminary. What some postmil critics fail to recognize is that postmillennialists have always had a significant role for the future conversion of Jews while premillennialists do not. Should We Cancel Karl Barth, Martin Luther, and Jonathan Edwards? Historic premillennialism is one system of eschatology that has support in the Protestant community. In similar language, Scripture affirms the perpetuity of ethnic Israel to a future salvation and a future kingdom as a race of people, and that in that salvation and in that kingdom will be the fulfillment of all divine promises given to them in the Old Testament, repeated in the New Testament, and through them to the world. And I went there and I spoke for a week, and they finally said to me, When are you going to tell us the good part? and I said, Well, whats the good part? They said, We want to know about the future; we want to know about the future. He notes that "the decisive authority of Asiatic millennialism is John, from whom the elders claimed to have obtained their information. A Case for . Now, next time Im going to take you through a series of about five questions that were going to ask and see how this plays out on the pages of Scripture, okay? Contrary to MacArthur, the historical record demonstrates that postmillennial Calvinists had developed a prophetic role for the Jews hundreds of years before Scofield. Premillennialists believe that two-thirds of the Jews living in Israel during the time of the great tribulation will be slaughtered (Zech. MacArthur is a fifth-generation pastor, a popular author and conference speaker and has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969, and as President of The Master's College (and the related Master's Seminary) in Santa Clarita, California. How do you explain that? The Savoy Declaration, drawn up in October 1658 by English Congregationalists meeting at the Savoy Palace, London, included the conversion of the Jews in its summary of the Churchs future hope: We expect that in the latter days, Antichrist being destroyed, the Jews called, and the adversaries of the kingdom of his dear Son broken, the churches of Christ being enlarged and edified through a free and plentiful communication of light and grace, shall enjoy in this world a more quiet, peaceful, and glorious condition than they have enjoyed. We want the Word to bless, to make us pure, to stabilize us, to comfort us, to give us a passion for evangelism. I. Dr. MacArthur on Premillennialism and Calvinism: "Now that leads to my title: `Why Every Self-Respecting Calvinist Is a Premillennialist' [laughter and applause] Now it's too late for Calvin, but it's not too late for the rest of you. Now, I've been telling you for a number of months that we were going to get into the subject of eschatology, the doctrine of last things. It matters to me. Oh sure, it helps to know some history and some background, but this is a pronounced blessing. So check out Tim Challies summary on this once it is posted and if you are able to get your mitts on the audio for this it is highly recommended. Now, talking about eschatology is not without controversy. If you interpret Old Testament prophecies literally, they cannot be fulfilled in this present age. In the meantime, Ive continued to study the Old Testament to write all the footnotes for the MacArthur Study Bible through the entire Old Testament. So that whatever God chose to do He will do, that whatever He began to do He will complete, those who will defend that to their last breath - Gods irrevocable, unconditional, unilateral, sovereign election will bring those He has chosen to the fulfillment of all that He has promised them. Edwards believed that the overthrow of Satans kingdom involved several elements: the abolition of heresies and infidelity, the overthrow of the kingdom of the Antichrist (the Pope), the overthrow of the Muslim nations, and the overthrow of Jewish infidelity: However obstinate [the Jews] have been now for above seventeen hundred years in their rejection of Christ, and however rare have been the instances of individual conversions, ever since the destruction of Jerusalem … yet, when this day comes, the thick vail that blinds their eyes shall be removed, 2 Cor. John MacArthur laid down the gauntlet on the issue of prophecy in his opening talk at the 2007 "Shepherds' Conference" that was titled "Why Every Self-Respecting Calvinist Is a Premillennialist." He was emphatic that only premillennialism takes the prophecies concerning the future of Israel seriously. I asked Dr. Michael Brown, who is premil, in our debate about Replacement Theology how he reconciles his claim that God is not finished with Israel with Zechariah 13:79. All of these are benefits of getting it right. And whats at stake here? He made an interesting connection between Genesis and Revelation. Doctrinal Statement Student Testimonies TMS for your Family Academics Academics Overview Master of Divinity Master of Theology Doctor of Ministry Doctor of Philosophy Bachelor of Theology Diploma of Theology Center for Israeli Studies Distance Education Academic Calendar Tyndale Center for Bible Translation It has not appeared as yet what we shall be. A Purchased Victory: A Conference on the Bright Hope of Postmillennialism, Website made by Chittam Technology Solutions, LLC. But in both cases, they would deny the actual thousand-year reign of Christ, and they would deny that Christ will reign and rule on earth and literally fulfill all His promises to the nation Israel given in the Old Testament covenants. They will die for that truth regarding the church, but unashamedly abandon that same truth for the elect nation of Israel. This is simply a way to understand Scripture in its normal sense. 11:12; 12:29; 13:19; John 10:12, 28, 29) and removing (John 6:15; Acts 8:39; 23:10; Jude 23).There is a third use, which focuses on being caught up . We understand that when you have a prophecy in the Bible that has not yet come to pass, not everything will be clear. John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, where he has served since 1969. Israel sinned, youre out. First, the Antichrist would appear and a seven-year period of tribulation would commence. O.T. (Matt .25:31-46; John . Primer, ed. You can believe and be saved and then you can forfeit your salvation. Ridgeleys original work was titled A Body of Divinity: Wherein the Doctrines of the Christian Religion are Explained and Defended, Being the Substance of Several Lectures on the Assemblys Larger Catechism and was published in 1731.)) 315K views 1 year ago Significant video editing was used to create a unique storyline that teaches about the end times, specifically premillennialism and amillennialism. All rights reserved. Whether youre an amillennialist or a postmillennialist, you basically say Israel forfeited all its promises. How could He hold any of us, in one sense, responsible for not believing? We've been working our way through doctrinal emphases in Scripture, doctrinal themes, and we have covered a lot of ground. You can choose Him and then not choose Him, and then choose Him again and then not choose Him, and you make the decision; and so, all of the promises of God are conditional on you. Oct 27, 2007. It therefore teaches responsibility. Prior to that I thought about it a lot. And so, you have to change the rules of interpretation and once you say the Bible doesnt mean what it says, then we have no idea what it means. Anything to avoid premillennialism, even if you change the rules of interpretation. He doesnt know the future because it hasnt happened. It is one thing to omit them for a time, and another to do it ordinarily. All right, thats the introduction. Amillennialism really seems to fit them. Out of their own mouth - whats wrong with that? They taught that the kingdom of God would be visibly manifest on earth after the second coming of Jesus. And when the church has brought about the dominating influence of Christ across the world, He will then come and end everything, and establish the new heaven and the new earth, which is the eternal state. After clicking 'Register', you will receive an email with a link to verify your account and to complete your registration. Christ's Prophetic Plans offers the reader John MacArthur's most explicit writing on eschatology and is perfect for pastors, bible professors, teachers, and students with a heart and mind for discovering Biblical truth. Those who most celebrate the sovereign grace of election - thats the Reformed - they are typically amillennial. Staggering. Historically, church fathers favored historic premillennialism, including Ireneaus, Papias, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and Hippolytus. Those are the views. Regarding this Dr. Timothy Jones writes, "Dispensationalism emphasizes the differences and discontinuity between the physical descendants of Abraham and followers of Jesus [2]. There are a number of viewpoints of what the Bible means when it speaks of future events. You forfeit everything, and God gives it to somebody else - namely, the church - and we hope the church can do better than Israel or the church will forfeit it all as well. The books and articles that make this case are not obscure or difficult to find. But some are holding on to what they have taught in the past; I guess self-preservation dominates their theology at that point. His contention that unless you see Scripture through dispensational eyes, you cannot be a "self-respecting Calvinist" surprised many-Reformed amillennarians and historic premillennarians alike. First of all, we commend Dr. MacArthur for his solid Biblical position on Israel, and that Israel has a glorious future in the plan and purpose of God. There are two great elect people in the Bible: Israel and the church; and Israel is elect, as the church is elect - the New Testament is full of comments about the church being the elect. Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts Workbook for Women Updated: Seven Questions to Ask Before---and After---You Marry 9780310875475 I dont do this to you very often, but I hope you feel like it was helpful, and anchored you in this great and important truth. . Because they believed that the Jews would be converted, Puritan and Presbyterian churches earnestly prayed that Pauls prophecies would be fulfilled. I reject the wacky world of newspaper exegesis and cartoon eschatology, and crazy interpretation like the locusts of Revelation 9 being helicopters, et cetera. Ive dragged myself through all these years of the discipline of study. But, you know, of all the people on the planet who should be premillennialists, it should be those who believe in divine sovereign election, of all people. Over four decades of ministry, John has written dozens of bestselling books, including The . Now, frankly, its too late for John Calvin to fix his work, although he is now a premillennialist in heaven. The beliefs of Premillennialism are far from "rightly dividing the word of truth"! CLASSIC DISPENSATIONALISM. It matters to me to understand what God has said about the end. Israel sinned, promises cancelled. But, for certain, according to amillennialists, there will be no thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth. The other says there will be a kingdom. Dispensational premillennialism (DP) offers the most complex chronology of the end times.It argues that the current church age will end with the rapture of the church (cf. When He comes, everything ends immediately. He told me he would study the issue and get back to me. . [1] He has been the pastor of Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in Sun Valley, California since February 9, 1969. Premillennialism: This view sees a chronological sequence as Satan is bound in the future when Christ returns and before Christians receive their reward, and then the millennium commences, hence the name, "pre". How could they believe unless He caused them to believe? He made them in the past, when He didnt know what He now knows, because what was going to happen hadnt happened. Weve been working our way through doctrinal emphases in Scripture, doctrinal themes, and we have covered a lot of ground. Who Are the Real Schismatics? For details about this sermon and for related resources, click here: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-339 To receive John MacArthur's monthly l. This message clears up any questions as to where MacArthur stands on the eschatology issue. You cannot fight the war on every front, and at the great time of the Reformation, they were fighting the war where the battle raged the hottest. [2] God is just trying to find His way through the melee of choices and decisions, through the endless vicissitudes and choices that everything and everyone makes, through all of the numberless issues in this massive universe that are going on; Hes sorting it all out as He goes. I like to call amillennialism negative, and postmillennialism positive. Hes not predicting the future because you cant predict what hasnt happened - it doesnt exist. In fact, I understand sovereign electing grace much more clearly than I ever have in the past, and I also understand Gods sovereign electing purpose for Israel more clearly than Ive ever understood it. Turn to 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Corinthians 15. (Quoted in Murray, The Puritan Hope, 101102. They dont want to accept the fact that Adam and Eve were created full grown, male and female, not the result of an evolutionary process. I had no idea what they believed - 1600 pastors and leaders from central Asia - Id never have even been there; and the group that led the conference came to me afterwards with smiles on their faces and said, You believe exactly what we believe. This isnt something for people who have been highly educated; this is something for people who havent been corrupted by education. The following is a partial response to the subject since it is integral to premillennialism while postmillennialism is often ignored on the subject. Help train Christians to boldly share the good news of Jesus Christ in a way that clearly communicates to this secular age. Log In
Theres a rapture, and theres a bma seat judgment; we know that. Some people say, How in the world can you understand it? They understood it in China without anything but a Bible; they understood it in Central Asia without anything but a Bible; you take it at face value. But in the Old Testament - for example, Isaiah 45:4: Israel, Mine elect. May we be faithful to take it, to interpret it as you intended for us to, so that it can yield to us the wonderful rich blessings that You have promised. Ridgeley knew his history well enough to know that the majority of theologians in the seventeenth century held to an advancing kingdom through the proclamation of the gospel which includes the future conversion of the Jews. So, this is a classic perfect fit for Arminian theology. It is pungently clear. Dispensationalism continues to provoke heated debate within the Christian world. Isaiah 65 - really, the whole chapter is about Israel, Gods elect - verse 22: My elect again shall enjoy long the work of their hands. Israel repeatedly called Gods elect; we know what that means. But for those who get it, for those who understand it, for those who embrace Gods sovereignty - that He is the only one who can determine who will be saved and blessed, and He is the only one who can save and bless - then saying that He cancelled promises to Israel because they didnt believe is completely inconsistent. Have you ever heard of that? Christ returns before the Millennium, a literal thousand years 2. DMcFadden said: The mixture of dispensational eschatology and Calvinist soteriology is not unique to MacArthur. John MacArthur has compiled more than 20,000 study notes, a 200-page topical index, and numerous charts, maps, outlines, and articles to create The MacArthur Study Bible. MacArthur--who is an ardent dispensationalist--stated and defended his position. In one passage he defends premillennialism by arguing that a future earthly kingdom is necessary because of God's promise to Abraham, he wrote "The promise remains steadfast. (Quoted in DeJong, As the Waters Cover the Sea, 38.). Instead, MacArthur systematically unpacked the biblical theology that leads one to an unabashed Calvinistic eschatology. This article is also available and sold as a booklet. iii.16. by Craig L. Blomberg and Sung Wook Chung [Grand Rapids: . You have this hope as a purifying hope. Receiving Not Achieving. That leaves me with the impression that God wants us not to question the length of its duration. And so, I think its a fair test to see whether eschatology holds up. Theological Method of Premillennialism" in A Case for Historic Premillennialism: An Alternative to "Left Behind" Eschatology, ed. But there is a growing influence of amillennialism, because amillennialism has been a part of reformed theology. I have - they can try to terrify me with all this stuff; I am unmoved. And for most evangelicals, for most people who hold to a sound, biblical view and Reformed theology, they would live and die that the text of Genesis 1 through 3 means exactly what it says it means, because thats the only way to interpret Scripture. And I ask the question: are we supposed to be comfortable with the notion that the hard and fast and true principles of Bible interpretation have to be set aside in prophetic texts? Look, I reject all of those really abusive and bizarre kinds of interpretation; but frankly, theyre no more wacky then the interpretations of the amillennialists, who want to take the entire book of Revelation and stuff it into the events of 70 A.D. and a few years afterwards and come up with things that are just as ridiculous. 2023 Grace to You. Also, among Scottish Presbyterian churches during this period, special days of prayer were set aside partly in order that the promised conversion of [Gods] ancient people of the Jews may be hastened. (Quoted in Murray, The Puritan Hope, 100.) Amillennialism, dispensational premillennialism, historic premillennialism, postmillennialism, preterism. Particular to this framework is the eschatological position known as "premillennial dispensationalism" which holds that Christ will return prior to a literal one-thousand-year reign on earth. Some people try to call it poetry, but its clearly not poetry - it has none of the earmarks of poetry, none of the characteristics of Hebrew poetry. The church will become more influential, more impactful, more spiritually powerful.