Amos 8:11

JEREMIAH PROJECT

BIBLE PROPHECY

CULTURE WAR

NEW WORLD ORDER

TRASHING AMERICA

DECEPTIONS

Premillennialism

Premillennialism, as a system, is based on a literal or normative method of biblical interpretation as opposed to Amillennialism which spiritualizes its interpretation and does not take the Bible literally.

In premillennialism, words mean what they normally mean in everyday usage, while at the same time it allows for legitimate figures of speech. The simple thesis of premillennialism is that Jesus will literally return to the earth before (pre) the Millennium begins and that He himself will inaugurate and rule over it. In contrast, Amillennialism sees the kingdom of God, not as a literal kingdom, but present now "in the hearts of man."

Premillennialists can be divided into two subgroups on the basis of their basic approach to prophetic texts.

Historicist premillennialists believe that scriptural prophecy - especially the passages in Daniel and Revelation give the entire history of the church in symbolic form. Thus they look into the church's past and present to find prophetic fulfillment's and to see where they are in God's prophetic timetable.

In contrast to historicist premillennialism, the dispensational theory of premillennialism, advanced in 1830 by John Nelson Darby has gained popularity among modern evangelicals, ascribing biblical significance to almost every new development in current world events. The second coming of Christ, and subsequent establishment of the millenial kingdom, is to be preceded by a seven year-long period known as the "Tribulation" - the Earthly activity of the Antichrist as well as the outpouring of God's wrath on mankind.

Within the premillennialist camp there are several schools of thought as to what point Christ takes the Church into heaven.

• Pre-Tribulation Rapture - before the start of the Tribulation
• Mid-Tribulation Rapture - at the mid-point of the Tribulation
• Post-Tribulation Rapture - at the conclusion of the Tribulation
• Pre-Wrath Rapture - the church will go through the great tribulation by Antichrist during the end times, but will be raptured immediately before the 'Day of the Lord' wrath, when Christ cuts short the persecution of Antichrist.
• Partial Rapture - only those who are faithful in the church will be raptured or translated and the rest will either be raptured sometime during the tribulation or at its end.

The timing of the Rapture is one of the more controversial subjects and is one of the more divisive issues of Christianity. Because of its divisive nature many people don't talk about it - nor do they study the scriptures pertaining to it. They see the rapture and indeed most prophecy as a subject that cannot be understood. Some say that prophecy and specifically the end time events surrounding the rapture are non-essential teachings and thus its not important what beliefs people hold about it.

Sadly, because of this lack of concern, much of the church today is seriously mistaken about the specific timing of the Rapture as it relates to the great tribulation of Antichrist or else is inclined to historicalize or spiritualize this essential teaching.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

It says, "All Scripture," and that includes passages dealing with prophecy, end-time events, and the rapture. Neglecting those passages that are more difficult to understand or deal with will surely diminish our effectiveness in teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness and will leave us ill-equipped for every good work.

The correct timing of the Rapture is clearly reveled by Christ in His Olivet Discourse, is confirmed through Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church and in his Thessalonian epistles, and verified further by John in the book of Revelation.

"Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." - Matthew 24:29-31

After that occurs...

"For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive, and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" - 1 Corinthians 15:51-55

We do not need to be unaware... as Scripture tells us everything we need to know. We do not need to be confused... as Scripture breathed into our hearts by the Holy Spirit will take away all confusion.

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders. - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9