Eschatology Part I
I have been focusing more on topics of devotional/spiritual living nature in this blog thus far, because those are the topics that I am most moved by currently and learning the most in. I thought, however, that I might do something a little more fun. Eschatology is one of my favorite topics and something I consider to be a great deal of fun (yes I know I'm a little unusual). As it happens my eschatological views are generally somewhat unique as well. I suppose there are many similarities in my views to some common views, but I've never found anyone who agreed with me entirely. That is possibly due to the nature and complexity of the topic, or perhaps I've hit on some things that no one else has, or perhaps I'm just entirely wrong!
Although I have reasoned my positions out, and prayed for understanding, and thus believe that I'm right, I don't think eschatology is a topic on which a person can, or should be, dogmatic (barring a few key points like the literal return of Christ and literal resurection). Consider what I have to say, and see if it makes sense.
This post will serve as an introduction to the topic and mainly focus on laying out all the varrying view points to set some ground work.
First I must lay a little basic ground work. There are a number of common positions on eschatology and it may be helpful to define, basicly, what each of them are.
Pre-Millenial (pre-mil) - This label applies to all views which hold that there will be a literal 1000 year "millenial" reign of Christ and that the tribulation, rapture, and return of Christ all happen before the millenial reign. This view is most common among evangelical protestants. There are in turn three main varieties of "pre-mil" views, all named for their view on when the rapture takes place.
Pre-Trib - This view holds that the rapture of the church takes place before the tribulation period, the church is in heaven during the tribulation and then returns to earth with Jesus at the end of the tribulation.
Mid-Trib/Pre-Wrath - Technically these are two seperate views, but they are fairly close, and mid-trib has been somehwat subsummed into pre-wrath. This view holds that there is a distinct division between the period of the tribulation and the pouring out of God's wrath upon the earth. This view holds that the church is present on earth for the tribulation and that the rapture occurs after the tribulation, but before the pouring out of God's wrath.
Post-Trib - This view holds that the rapture occurs at the end, after the tribulation and when Jesus returns to the earth judging the earth and setting up his millenial kingdom.
A-Mil - This view is the official position of the traditional churches (technically the orthodox and the anglican churches don't have an 'official' position but the majority of members probably hold to an a-mil view). This view holds that the "millenial" reign of Christ after his return is not literal but rather is a spiritual allegory of some sort. Within A-Mil positions you will find some who view all biblical end time prophecy as allegorical, however the official Catholic position holds the tribulation and return of Christ and resurrection of the saints to be literal events. In most points the Catholic position lines up with a "post-trib" view discussed earlier except that they do not believe the millinial reign is literal.
Preterist/Historical fulfillment - This view point holds that either all, or the majority of biblical "end time" prophecy was fulfilled during the roman empire specificly surrounding the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the temple in 70 AD. This view is often considered to be an "A-mil" position because it also does not view the millenial reign as a literal event. Historical fulfillment views rely upon viewing all prophetic writings as highly symbolic and 'spiritualized' or allegorical.
Within the 'preterist' position there are full preterists and partial preterists. Partial preterists believe that almost all end time prophecy has been fulfilled, but that there will be a literal return of Christ which is yet in the future. Full preterists believe that the final resurection and return of Christ are also allegorical, or spiritual, and not literal events which were fulfilled in the past.
At the risk of offending, full preterism is a heretical belief which was condemned by the church from the apostles on down to Nicea and to our day.
Post-Millenialism - this view is primarily held among partial preterists. This view holds that the millenial reign described in revelation is a spiritual description of the church/kingdom of God on earth manifested in the community of believers. They believe that the millenial reign will thus precede the literal coming of Jesus Christ at the end of the world.
Although I have reasoned my positions out, and prayed for understanding, and thus believe that I'm right, I don't think eschatology is a topic on which a person can, or should be, dogmatic (barring a few key points like the literal return of Christ and literal resurection). Consider what I have to say, and see if it makes sense.
This post will serve as an introduction to the topic and mainly focus on laying out all the varrying view points to set some ground work.
First I must lay a little basic ground work. There are a number of common positions on eschatology and it may be helpful to define, basicly, what each of them are.
Pre-Millenial (pre-mil) - This label applies to all views which hold that there will be a literal 1000 year "millenial" reign of Christ and that the tribulation, rapture, and return of Christ all happen before the millenial reign. This view is most common among evangelical protestants. There are in turn three main varieties of "pre-mil" views, all named for their view on when the rapture takes place.
Pre-Trib - This view holds that the rapture of the church takes place before the tribulation period, the church is in heaven during the tribulation and then returns to earth with Jesus at the end of the tribulation.
Mid-Trib/Pre-Wrath - Technically these are two seperate views, but they are fairly close, and mid-trib has been somehwat subsummed into pre-wrath. This view holds that there is a distinct division between the period of the tribulation and the pouring out of God's wrath upon the earth. This view holds that the church is present on earth for the tribulation and that the rapture occurs after the tribulation, but before the pouring out of God's wrath.
Post-Trib - This view holds that the rapture occurs at the end, after the tribulation and when Jesus returns to the earth judging the earth and setting up his millenial kingdom.
A-Mil - This view is the official position of the traditional churches (technically the orthodox and the anglican churches don't have an 'official' position but the majority of members probably hold to an a-mil view). This view holds that the "millenial" reign of Christ after his return is not literal but rather is a spiritual allegory of some sort. Within A-Mil positions you will find some who view all biblical end time prophecy as allegorical, however the official Catholic position holds the tribulation and return of Christ and resurrection of the saints to be literal events. In most points the Catholic position lines up with a "post-trib" view discussed earlier except that they do not believe the millinial reign is literal.
Preterist/Historical fulfillment - This view point holds that either all, or the majority of biblical "end time" prophecy was fulfilled during the roman empire specificly surrounding the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the temple in 70 AD. This view is often considered to be an "A-mil" position because it also does not view the millenial reign as a literal event. Historical fulfillment views rely upon viewing all prophetic writings as highly symbolic and 'spiritualized' or allegorical.
Within the 'preterist' position there are full preterists and partial preterists. Partial preterists believe that almost all end time prophecy has been fulfilled, but that there will be a literal return of Christ which is yet in the future. Full preterists believe that the final resurection and return of Christ are also allegorical, or spiritual, and not literal events which were fulfilled in the past.
At the risk of offending, full preterism is a heretical belief which was condemned by the church from the apostles on down to Nicea and to our day.
Post-Millenialism - this view is primarily held among partial preterists. This view holds that the millenial reign described in revelation is a spiritual description of the church/kingdom of God on earth manifested in the community of believers. They believe that the millenial reign will thus precede the literal coming of Jesus Christ at the end of the world.
posted by Simon Templar | 3:29 PM
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