Part 37
ULTRADISPENSATIONALISM
I would like to include a short study on what is termed ultradispensationalism. It is the dispensational system taken a few steps further.
Among these people there are a number of variations. The variety comes from the fact that they place the beginning of the Church at different places in time. This will automatically determine how they view the Lord's table, Baptism and their use of Biblical books.
THE POSITIONS
Some view the church as beginning at Acts nine, the conversion and commission of Paul. (Mark C.R. Stam, "Things That Differ"; Chicago: Berean Bible Society, 1959/ He also wrote, "The Fundamentals Of Dispensationalism")
Some view the church as beginning at Acts thirteen, when Paul and Barnabus were sent out on their first missionary journey. (Mark O'Hair)
Others see the church beginning as late as Acts 28, as the ministry of Paul closes out. (Mark Knoch)
Though I have not run across anyone holding to this position, I suspect there may be some that view the Church beginning with Acts ten when the gentiles were allowed into the picture. (The conversion of Cornelius and his house.)
Among their beliefs are the following: Some reject the Lord's table, some reject baptism, some reject both, some reject the ordinances and hold only to Paul's epistles, and some go even further and reject all of the New Testament except Paul's prison epistles.
Mark Knoch believes there are four dispensations between Christ and Paul's prison ministry.
Most of these men view the Great Commission as to the Jews only and not incumbent upon the Church.
Another variation is the thought of Mark C.F. Baker. He believes that one church began at Pentecost, but that Paul was sent and was writing to another, separate, church body. (Baker, C.F., "Dispensational Theology"; Grand Rapids: Grace Bible College Publ., 1971)
I Think that all of these men would be pretrib/premill men and that they would hold to a literal Millennium. Some of them are very straight doctrinally. Indeed, IFCA, at one time, accepted a hyperdispensational man into their fellowship. This would require proper belief in many areas of doctrine.
KINGDOM THEOLOGY
I would like to introduce this section with two quotes from a man that preached a similar type theology. The quotes will set the stage for our discussion.
"He [Christ] could have come back five hundred years ago. If we evangelize the world in this generation, He can come back in this generation. Everything depends on our obedience. We can hasten His coming by giving His Gospel to every tribe, tongue, people and nation."
"When the last nation gets the Gospel and there are some in the body of Christ from every nation, tongue and people, then, and then only, will God's plan be consummated. Only then can the Age end and Jesus Christ return to take over the reins of government." (Smith, Oswald J., "The Cry Of The World"; London: Marshal, Morgan and Scott, no copyright)
You can see clearly from this that the Church, and the Church's efforts will bring about the return of Christ. Christ must wait upon us to do our job. He cannot return until we allow it. Now, I trust that you have seen the error of that already. How can we control Almighty God? We cannot.
Variations of this thought have come to us in a number of different groups, theologies and belief systems. Some that we will look at briefly are: Kingdom Theology, Dominion Theology, Reconstruction theology, Theonomy, Restorationism, Restitutionism, Third Wave, Latter Rain, and Kingdom Now.
Gary North divides the theological peoples of our day into two categories. The eschatological pessimists and the eschatological optimists. Simply put the pessimists see gloom and doom, and the optimists see vivaciousness and victory. The pessimist views the world situation and Biblical end times as declining until the Lord comes. These people are the dispensationalists.
The optimist views the world scene as getting better and better until the Lord comes. The world getting better comes from the activities of the
believers. Those holding this are usually linked in some manner with Post millennialism.
Most agree that many of these people have simply adopted the old Postmillennialism and tacked on a new name with some new trimmings. DeMar does not seem to reject the title Postmillennialist when used of him. ("The Reduction Of Christianity A Biblical Response To Dave Hunt"; Gary DeMar and Peter Leithard; Dominion Press; Ft Worth; 1988, p XXXV) He quotes Isaiah 11 9-10 as something that relates to what believers can do today. (in Reduction, p X) "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."
To prove their teachings they state that Satan has developed counterfeits. Because their teachings follow closely the teachings of cults and isms, they state that their teachings are the true ones that the cults and isms are counterfeiting. Their teaching has been compared by some to the New Age movement. The New Agers believe that the true Christ is coming shortly, as soon as they can get the earth ready for him. The Kingdom Theology simply are looking for Christ's second coming when they can get the world cleaned up.
The following points are a compilation of information gleaned from the following books: "That The World May Know" Pollock; "Seduction The Biblical Response"; "Paradise Restored", Chilton.
1. They view man as God: We can become god and create our own destiny. This is based on several things. First, they believe the church is divine — we are the body of Christ. This is the misuse of literal interpretation. We are not the literal hands, feet etc. of Christ — we are a body of people that belong to Christ and a body that Christ controls. The Scripture nowhere indicates that we are divine beings, nor that the church is divine. Relate the church at Corinth to this teaching. If the church is divine then we have divinity involved in immorality and many other sins. Intolerable.
Their thinking stems from Ephesians 4:11-16 and Matthew 5:48. They mistake maturing with becoming divine and perfect. We cannot in this life
become perfect. We may become more mature and more pure, but never perfect. We may not in any life become divine. God alone is divine and He alone in all of eternity will be divine.
2. They view the church as taking dominion over the world before Christ returns: The Corinthians text is speaking of activities of the Lord in the end and have nothing to do with what the church is going to do. This is the context of the resurrections, not the church age. The Ephesians text is also speaking of the Lord and not the church. Verse twenty two and three mention that Christ is head over the church, but does not show that the church did all that is in the preceding text.
Even the lost understand the program. In the 1992 presidential campaign one of the "religious right" was introduced by a newsman as one that believes that the Christians should take over government and set up a theocracy in the United States. This is what they want to do.
I dislike being lumped in with them by the media as part of the religious right. It seems the media takes the most controversial of a group and label all others that are related to that one controversial belief. The media related all of evangelical Christianity to the religious right that wants a theocracy. I personally believe that only the Charismatic end of the spectrum wants the theocracy yet evangelicals, fundamentalists etc. are lumped with them.
3. All believers will become rich: Proverbs 13:22 "...wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just." They teach that the riches of the world will come to the church and this will assist in taking dominion of the world. This is the prosperity teaching of today. This concept is teaching that all believers should be rich and have all that they ask for.
My brother attended one of these churches in Washington. The pastor and his wife (both pastors in the church) both drove Mercedes and the ushers took up the offering in five gallon plastic buckets. If the offering wasn't enough, they would pass the buckets again.
4. The Church will evangelize the world, then Christ can return: Revelation 7:9
"After this I beheld and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues,"
This text simply states that there will be believers from all nations etc. in heaven. It does not state that the church must accomplish this before the Lord returns. The how of this is up to God, not man.
One final thought in refuting their thinking. Luke 18:8 seems to show that the righteous may not be in the majority when He comes. "Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" The teaching that we are studying requires that the believers overtake the world, not as this verse indicates dwindle to the point that it is questioned whether there will be faithful or not when the Lord returns.
SOME OF THE PLAYERS
I would like to list some of the different groups that I have run across and comment on their teaching. Some of the groups, I have found no information on so comments will be limited.
Latter Rain: A revival broke out in 1948 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. This was likened to the outpouring of the spirit upon those at the Azuza street church when the modern Charismatic Movement was born. (The Azuza street meetings were the foundation of the modern Charismatic movement. People were gathered and they were involved in an outpouring of the Spirit and speaking in tongues.)
Out of this revival came revelations that told the leaders that the church had completely misunderstood the great commission and the end times scriptures. This group later gave way to the Manifest Sons Of God.
Manifest Sons Of God: They were a pentecostal group in the 40's and 50's. They preached a victorious gospel. Involved in their thinking was the beginnings of the Prosperity theology.
They felt that they could come to a point where they could think as God thinks, and operate at the same level of faith as God operates. If the above is true then you will have all that you want and lack nothing. They feel by the use of prosperity and bringing people to righteousness we will bring in the kingdom.
They are not reconstructionists as such. They felt that they could Christianize through prosperity, rather than reforming society and government.
Their new revelations were viewed as equal to, if not above the Scriptures.
Kingdom Now: Earl Paulk is the leader and has appeared on the PTL club (Jim Bakker's show). His church is the Kingdom Church. He has been appointed a Bishop by a group of Charismatic churches.
He mentioned in a newsletter called "The Omega Letter" that God wants Christians to be the vehicle by which all kingdoms of the world are brought to be the kingdoms of God. He called for the establishment of the Kingdom Of God now in this time.
He mentioned that Christians would begin taking public office in all levels of government. I might mention that this is a great idea, in that we as believers ought to be involved in our government. Indeed, we might be useful in helping turn this country around spiritually. I would disagree that God wants us to set up the kingdom and create a theocracy, however.
Coalitions On Morality: A gathering of very dissimilar groups for a common cause, such as abortion. One such group is CAUSA which was set up by Sun Myung Moon (Unification Church).
We have seen fundamental Christians beginning to work with Roman Catholics against abortion even though they have very dissimilar backgrounds.
Theonomy: DeMar seems to tie theonomy and reconstructionism together in that he uses men from both to back up one of his statements in a footnote. ("The Reduction Of Christianity A Biblical Response To Dave Hunt"; Gary DeMar and Peter Leithard; Dominion Press; Ft Worth; 1988, p 31-32)
I would like to just adapt some information from an article in Bib Sac. The article was written by Robert P. Lightner. (Jan-Mar 1986)
Who: Lightner mentions that they are from the covenant-Reformed, Westminster tradition. (P 26)
What: They hold to the postmillennial position and preach that the Mosaic law is for our day. (p 26)
Defined: Theonomy comes from two Greek words. One meaning God and one meaning Law.
Aim: Basically they want to set up the theocracy that we have already mentioned. They want to institute the Mosaic law as the civil/religious law of the land. They feel that the Church should impose the religious upon all of society. Sounds like the Roman Church in Europe some centuries ago. (p 29)
Pessimists: That's the good guys. Everything is getting worse until the end times when it will be the worst and Christ will come to restore the heavens and earth to the glories of God.
A listing of Dispensational Premillennialists might be in order. D.L. Moody, C.I. Scofield, Alva McClain, Herman Hoyt, Charles Ryrie, Dwight Pentecost, Hal Lindsey, H.A. Ironside, John Walvoord, and many many others.
DeMar includes Jimmy Swagart and David Wilkerson in this camp as well. Some of the writings of Jimmy Swagart indicate that he may be in this camp even though he would disagree in other areas. I have not read nor checked out David Wilkerson.
Dominion Theology: DeMar suggests that Christ has a dominion. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Believers are co-heirs with Him so they should also have dominion with Him. This dominion is a bit premature and possibly overstated. The Scripture is plain that we will reign with Him and be with Him in the kingdom and eternity, however there is no indication that this ruling will occur before He comes to set up His kingdom.
They feel that as the world sees the believer living within His dominion they will see what the believer is like and the world will begin to change and improve, not by oppression, but by service to mankind. I Think Most Would Agree That The Believer Living Like He Should Would Have A Tremendous Effect On His World.
Adam was given dominion in the garden, but blew it when he fell. All now is a work to restore dominion. The believer is to work toward restoring
dominion to man in every area of life and they do this through Christ. This by the way is part of the reason that Charismatics believe that women should pastor and preach. They are attempting to get the world back to the pre-fall days when Eve was EQUAL to Adam.
Chilton uses a quote by Spurgeon on the back of his book. (Chilton, David; "Paradise Restored"; Ft. Worth: Dominion Press)
"'It would be easy to show that at our present rate of progress the kingdoms of his world never could become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. Indeed, many in the Church are giving up the idea of it except on the occasion of the advent of Christ, which, as it chimes in with our own idleness, is likely to be a popular doctrine. I myself believe that King Jesus will reign, and the idols be utterly abolished; but I expect the same power which turned the world upside down once will still continue to do it. The Holy Ghost would never suffer the imputation to rest upon His holy name that He was not able to convert the world.'"
I've attempted to locate this quote but have not been able to at this point.
I'm not sure that Spurgeon meant what the Dominionist means, but there is a lot of truth in what he said. We would agree that at the present rate the world cannot merge into the kingdom as a righteous body of believers. We would agree that the Holy Spirit could transform the world into a Christian world, however this does not mean that He is going to do it to bring in the kingdom.
He also quotes other big names and indicates that they were in agreement with his thinking. A study of each man's belief systems would be required to prove that they indeed, were in agreement with Mark Chilton. He quotes John Milton, St. Athanasius, and others.
They suggest that man in salvation is resotred to his original state which assures that he will fulfill his calling and purpose. (Chilton, David; "Paradise Restored"; Ft. Worth: Dominion Press, p 25)
They see the cross as the final and ultimate judgment on the Devil and that he is of no problem to the believer today.
He gives a lot of information that is not footnoted and as such very suspect to me. Example: He mentions that Columbus was not only looking
for a new route to the Indies but that his journal was full of references from Isaiah that prove that he was interested in expanding the kingdom to the Indies. This may well be. I might suggest that he was looking to expand the Roman Church kingdom by seeking riches for the Queen. If fact the American Indians call him a very greedy person based on his desire to enrich the Queen. (1992 Columbus day celebrations were hampered because of demonstrations against Columbus.)
Chilton identifies solidly with the postmillennial position thus identifying dominionism with reconstructionism.
DeMar, on the other hand, seems to give the reconstructionist the stance of not using politics as a part of their movement.
Some question where Pat Robertson stands. He seems to feel that reform through government is right. This was the reasoning behind his running for president of the United States.
As I see it in my study, the postmillennialist, dominionist, reconstructionist, are all the same with the Manifest sons of God. I don't know if they would hold to the "new" revelation of the Manifest sons or not. (The Omega letter classes Pat Robertson as a reconstructionist.)
Kingdom Theology: DeMar suggests that the terms kingdom theology and dominion theology are used by some interchangeably. The two are very similar in nature. Kingdom theology is an intellectualization of the dominion theology. The dominionist has the belief, and is working toward fulfilling that belief, while the kingdomist is doing all this plus trying to figure out when the kingdom is. Is it now, is it future, is it real, is it spiritual.
Both seek to gain good in the world by works of the believer.
Transformation Theology: They believe that God is involved in saving the whole person, body/soul/spirit/social/etc., and that he is doing this in this life.
This is some information from a paper published by the Fellowship Of Missions. (The article was "Transformation Theology") "The term 'social transformation' was lauded as one that could include both the spiritual and
the social aspects of the Church's duty and thereby a wholistic expression of its mandate."
In speaking of redemption, they don't "'...see the mission of the Church as the saving of disembodied souls to go to heaven' out there.' Rather, this statement is based on the premise that God intends to redeem whole persons...body, mind and soul, and God intends to redeem His creation bringing into being a new heaven and a new earth.'"
Reconstruction Theology: The following are some that I have seen listed as being in the movement:
R.J. Rushdoony, Greg L. Bahnsen, James Jordan, Ray Sutton, David Chilton, George Grant, Gary DeMar, Peter Leithard, Dr. Gary North, Abraham Kyuper, American Vision, Chalcedon Foundation, Geneva Ministries, Institute for Christian Economics, Counsel of Chalcedon
They follow their roots at least back to the Puritans, but some indicate the current movement finds its beginnings in the 60's. They feel that the humanistic world order is in error, but that there is a Biblical world order that is to be brought in by the reconstructionists. The Biblical world order is founded in the Old Testament, in that the Old Testament was God's plan for the entire world and not just the faithful. The whole world is to follow the Old Testament ways to the restoration of the Biblical world order. This determines that the Church will be victorious over the world system of the Devil. The Churches victory will come through social reform or reconstruction.
The Church will not only be victorious over the world order, but over all of the isms of the day including the New Age movement. It should also be observed that they are attempting to put down even pessimism — the dispensationalist.
They see the transformation in all areas of life including such things as Ecology, mandating lower taxes and governmental change. I assume by governmental change that he has in mind a reconstructionist government. Can you show me anywhere that the Lord desires of us to take over governments and set up our own?
DeMar charges that Hunt in "The Seduction Of Christianity", correctly shoots down the new age movement, but that he offers nothing in place of it. Reconstructionism, however replaces the error of the new age with the truth of reconstructionism. My first thought was that both new age and the reconstructionist feels that by faithful work of their followers they can bring in a utopia. If I were a reconstructionist I would feel very uneasy with being identical in goal and method with the new age movement.
They hold to hold that the Old Testament law is for use today. They seem to follow the philosophy and thinking of VanTil, however I don't think that VanTil was a reconstructionist. They view the entire world as ultimately coming under the authority of the Lord through their efforts.
Kuyper held that Calvinism related to every area of life and this led to the thought system of VanTil. Though they follow VanTil and Kuyper they differ in that VanTil did not hold to their thinking and Kuyper was an Amillennialist. He did not see the church as being ultimately victorious.
There are a couple of articles concerning this topic that might be of interest. Christianity Today, Feb. 20, 1987, Democracy as Heresy, Rodney Clapp. Voice (IFCA's Magazine), July/August (don't know the year), The Lure Of Reconstructionist Theology, Jarl K. Waggoner.
Coalition On Revival: This seems to be a coalition of both sides. They attempt to find common ground on the real meaning of the Kingdom of God.
PEOPLE
Gary North, R.J. Rushdooney, Bob Weiner, Bob Mumford, Ed McAtee, R. E. McMaster, Dr. James Kennedy
THE FOLLOWING ARE ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE
LISTED ON THEIR LETTERHEAD
Dr. Gleason Archer Ph.D, Gary DeMar, Dr. Duane Gish Ph.D., Dr. James Kennedy Ph.D., Mrs. Beverly LaHaye, Dr. Tim LaHaye D.Min., Dr. Harold Lindsell Ph.D., Rev. David P. Mains, Dr. Josh McDowell D.D, Bob Mumford, Dr. Gary North Ph.D., Dr. Raymond Ortlund D.D., Dr.
J.I. Packer Ph.D., Dr. RJ Rushdooney Ph.D., Dr. Robert Saucy Th.D., Mark Franky Schaeffer, Dr. Jack Van Impe Ph.D., Brother Andrew
Some Conclusions To The End Times Positions: To draw the end times positions to a close, I would like to recap some items that need to be understood in the multiple views of how God will end His present age.
1. The people we have been discussing are believers for the most part, if not all of them.
2. We need to treat one another as such, even though we disagree.
3. All are dispensationalists of some sort, even though some of them deny it. None of them bring sacrifices to the church and most see different governing relationships between God and man.
4. When you have a new thought introduced to you or a new interpretation, take time to study that verse or the thought. Check several commentaries. Try it in relation to other verses you know relate. Check it out. Accept, reject or hold for further thought. When verses are used, be sure that you consider the context of the passage. Most of these varying positions misuse Scripture to arrive at their interpretations.
5. If you don't know if something is true — don't present it in a lesson or sermon. If you are fairly sure you have the truth and you've checked your thinking with some knowledgeable men — teach it.
6. The pretrib/premill position is:
The most logical position. If God is trying to communicate with us, the literal method of interpretation would be the best method for Him to use. We have seen that this type of interpretation leads to pretrib/premill.
This is the most trouble free position. You have few problem passages to deal with. All verses that relate to prophecy seem to fit into this system easily.
The system presents hope to the Church in that we will not have to go through the terrible time of tribulation that is coming to the earth. I might qualify that statement. The position offers more hope than any of the other systems that believe in a tribulation. Some of the systems just ignore
the fact that there is going to be one. They spiritualize all of that prophecy and say that we are going through those problems today.
Lastly, what good, what purpose and what result would come from having the Church go through the tribulation? As I have studied the positions I have never seen an author that stated a need for, nor a purpose for the church being in the tribulation.
God seems in all ages to have a plan and a purpose. If there is a no purpose for the Church in the tribulation, if there is no profit for the church in the tribulation, then why would God allow the Church to go through such a horrible time?
Related to this — there is no proof text that says the Church will be in the tribulation. Indeed, to have the Church present in the tribulation would be an argument from silence.
HEAVEN
The classic story concerning death and graveyards is the question, "Why do they have fences around graveyards?" People are just dieing to get in. In reality, people ought to be dieing to accept the Lord so they can enter into heaven.
Heaven, when I was a child was that which religious leaders talked about, and that place which I assumed that I would go to. It was in my mind a place, rather than an existence. It was up there somewhere above the clouds and beyond the stars, where God had prepared a beautiful utopia for those of us that were to go.
Heaven in reality is much more than a place. It is eternity, it is eternity with our Lord and Savior, it is eternity with all the saints of all time, and it is eternity with peace.
We might make mention of one other fact that was long in coming to light in my foggy mind. All of mankind, past, present and future have eternal existence. The quality of that existence is the problem. Some have eternity in all that is good, while others have eternity in all that is bad. We will spend eternity in one existence or the other. The choice is up to the person.
LENGTH OF ETERNITY
Hendrick Van Loon a Dutch historian in a book called, "The Story Of Mankind", suggests that eternity is something like this: "High up in the North, in the land called Svitjod, there stands a rock. It is one hundred miles high, and one hundred miles wide. Once every thousand years, a little bird comes to this rock to sharpen its beak. When the rock has thus been worn away, then a single day of Eternity will have gone by." (Tan, Paul L.; "The Interpretation Of Prophecy"; Rockville, MD: Assurance Publishing, p 358)
TAN SUGGESTS ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION
"When a baby is born, he is -- 0 Years Old. If properly cared for, he becomes -- 10 Years Old. If very properly cared for, we add another zero - - 100 Years Old. Now, suppose we continue to add zeros: If we should fill the remaining pages of this book with zeros, and cover the earth and universe with zeros — and then comprehend its total value — we shall have discovered the length of one day in Eternity."
And, We All Know That The Illustration Is Not Even Accurate, For We Cannot Comprehend The Values Listed, Nor Can Man Fathom The Length Of A Day In Eternity. Indeed, it could be 24 hours long.
REALITY IN AMERICA
Newsweek March 27, 1989 had an article that listed some statistics of interest. It detailed the fact that many do not believe in a literal hell, and that many do not believe in heaven. That should key us into some thinking about how we witness. If many Americans don't believe in Hell, then we ought to use this concept in our witnessing to people.
Changing Views Of Heaven: The article has some interesting information.
Roman Catholic: Since Vatican II much literature has been set forth from the church, yet nothing has been mentioned about hell. The Newsweek article mentioned a Catholic Theologian, James Burtchaell, that feels that eternity is underway at this point in time. What you do here determines your relationship with God as you go forward in eternity. You will change modes of existence somewhere along the line.
I would agree in thought to the fact that eternity is now going on — that when we change modes of existence we will have a set relationship with God. The difference between us would be that his relationship seems based on works while the Bible requires that the relationship be based on the person of Jesus Christ.
Evangelicals: The article mentions that the evangelicals are changing their thinking about heaven and hell. This is evident in the fact that they don't talk about hell anymore. The author suggests that some are having a hard
time stressing the Christ only method of salvation. They struggle with good men like Gandhi spending eternity in hell.
UNCHANGING VIEWS OF HEAVEN
Fundamentalists: The author mentions that the fundamentalists still have a strong belief in heaven and hell. I suspect that they may be wrong, however because many do not preach about hell anymore.
The article also gives some other views of hell that might interest you if you can find the magazine in a library.
LET US CONSIDER SOME FACTS ABOUT HEAVEN
1. There will be many mansions. John 14 1-3
2. We will recognize others. Luke 16:19-31 tells of the account of the rich man and Lazarus, and the rich man recognized those on the other side of Sheol. The transfiguration would indicate this fact of recognition as well.
3. We will have eternal life. The New Testament is full of references to our eternal nature with God. One we might mention is 1 Thessalonians 4:1618. Vs. 17 mentions, "...and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
4. Some view Romans 8:22-23 as proof there will be animal life in eternity. The whole of creation was affected by the fall. There were animals before the fall, all creation was affected by the fall so the restoration of things should include animals. We know there is plant life in eternity, and there are animals in the millennium, so there may be animal life in eternity. I'm not saying, folks, there will be a kitty and puppy heaven, but there may be animals. We might mention the fact that Christ returns on a horse, thus possibly indicating animals in eternity. Revelation 19:11ff You must remember there will be 1000 years between this occasion and eternity, so it may not indicate animals in eternity.
4. We will have new bodies. Philippians 3:21
5. We will be with Christ. John 17:24, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me...."
6. We will have pleasure. Psalm 16:11, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
7. We will have joy. Psalm 16:11. The contrast of pleasure and joy would be the tortures of torment.
8. It is a specific place. 1 Peter 1:4 tells us that something can be stored there.
9. It will be with God. Luke 11:2
10. It will be with the angels. Matthew 22:30
11. We will be like Christ. 1 John 3:2. Some heavy thoughts there. Be like Christ. See Him.
12. It is far better than this life. Phil 1:23
13. It will be beautiful. Revelation 21 This describes the new Jerusalem.
Lest Someone Embarrass You, May I Relate There Is Only One Street Of Gold. (There may be more, but the Revelation only mentions one.)
14. There will be worship. Revelation 19:1
15. There will be rewards. Revelation 22:12
16. The light will be from Christ. Revelation 21:23
17. It will be a holy place. Revelation 21:27
18. There will be no tears/death/sorrow/crying/pain. Revelation 21:4
19. There will be no curse. Revelation 22:3
20. Based on our being like Christ and what we know of His post resurrection body, we assume the following will be true. Capacity to eat, if we want to. Capacity to move through walls. Some physical features — the wounds of the cross and lance. Communication skills.
21. It is up. Acts 1:9, in speaking of Christ being taken it states, "...he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."
22. Misc. items: Created by God, Genesis 1:1; Everlasting; High, Psalm 103:11; God's dwelling place — Matthew 6:9.
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF HEAVEN
1. Christ: He spoke of it, as one that has first hand knowledge in that it is his eternal home, both past, present, and future.
2. Paul mentions it: 2 Corinthians 12:1-9 He mentions being caught up to the third heaven.
3. John: Revelation 4:1-2 mentions him being caught up. He saw the throne scene of God.
4. Old Testament saints: Isaiah and Ezekiel both observed the throne scene.
I assume that heaven will be the complete opposite of the place of torment. This would mean that heaven will be as peaceful as torment is without peace. This would mean that heaven will be as beautiful as torment is dark. This would mean that heaven will be as neat as torment is terrible. This would mean that heaven will be everything that torment is not.
At Any Rate, Torment Is Not A Place To Desire To Be.
I would guess that a study of torment would give a real appreciation for what we will have in eternity with God. We will have a study on hell next.
IN THE PRACTICAL AREA WE MIGHT CONSIDER
1. We will be able to accept ourselves as God accepts us.
2. We will be satisfied for the first time in our existence.
3. We will totally enjoy every moment of all of eternity. Never bored.
4. We will have total and free access to Christ and all the other saints of all times. Imagine those potlucks.
5. It will mean never having indigestion.
6. It will mean having hair, or not having hair — depending on which is really heavenly. If there is hair in the spiritual realm.
7. Never having those problems with the dentist.
8. This list could go on forever. Indeed, It Will....
Heaven should be a glorious thought to the believer, not something to be shunned or avoided in preference to worldly things, activities nor desires. A couple of quotes will show how some believers have reacted to the thought of heaven.
"Heaven
"Origin of 'Sweet By-and-By
The origin of the familiar hymn, 'In the Sweet By-and-By,' is given by a writer in The Christian Advocate, and it is a story of unusual interest. Sanford F. Bennett was a New Englander with a gift of writing verses, who in 1836 removed to Elkhorn, Wisconsin, where he conducted a drug store. Joseph P. Webster, also a New Englander who had come to Elkhorn, had some musical skill, and Bennett and he became intimate friends. Webster, who was subject to moods of depression, one day in 1867 went into Bennett's store and stood at the stove without speaking to anyone. Bennett saw he was depressed, and here the story runs as follows: 'Seeing that something was wrong, the latter asked, 'What is the matter now?' 'It is no matter,' Webster replied. 'It will be all right by and by.' Like a flash the idea of the hymn came to Bennett, who exclaimed,'The Sweet By-andBy. Would not that make a good hymn?' 'Maybe it would,' returned Webster indifferently. Bennett turned to his desk and in a few minutes handed Webster the paper containing his verses. Meanwhile two friends, N. H. Carswell and S.E. Bright, had entered. They watched Webster as he read the words. Bennett said: 'Ad he read it his eyes kindled, his whole demeanour changed. Stepping to the desk he began writing notes rapidly. Presently, taking a violin, he played the melody. In a few moments more he had the notes for the four parts of the chorus jotted down.' It was not half an hour from the time Bennett began writing before the four men were singing the hymn in the form in which it was afterward published in the 'Signet Ring.' It was while they were singing it that R.R. Crosby came in,
and after hearing the song, cried out, with tears in his eyes, 'That hymn is immortal.'"
"'It was in 1876 that I wrote 'Beulah Land,' said Mark Stites. 'I could write only two verses and the chorus of 'Beulah Land' when I was overcome and fell on my face. I could only weep and write no more. That was on Sunday. On the following Sunday I wrote the third and fourth verses and again I was so influenced by emotion that I could only pray and weep. The first time it was sung was at the regular Monday morning meeting of Methodist ministers at 1018 Arch Street, Philadelphia. Bishop McCabe sang it to the assembled ministers. Since then its story is known wherever religious people congregate.'" (Lawson, James Gilghrist, "Best Sermon Pictures"; Chicago: Moody Press, No copyright.)
Might I challenge you to come to a place in your life when you shed tears of joy over the thrills of eternity with the Father, but at the same time be able to shed tears of sorrow over the torment of the lost.
This study should not end without comment on what has been termed near death or after death experiences. These experiences are related to us from people that have died and then been brought back to life, or people that were very near death.
The experiences vary around the basic, seeing of bright light down a long corridor and a being at the end calling them. These people are certain they were on their way to heaven to be with God.
A couple of thoughts that you might be able to use in relation to this discussion. First, the fact that this is almost a universal experience with the near death people, leads me to believe they would have us believe that all people that die are going to heaven. The Scripture is quite definite on the falseness of that theory.
Second, in recent days doctors are finding out that the people that were pronounced dead, may not have been really dead. They have found that people with no pulse, may have a pulse so weak that the doctor cannot feel it with his finger. Research in such cases with new technology have proven that in some cases the pulse is there, but is very weak. The pulse is large enough to keep blood going through the brain, which would allow for impressions of light etc. to be retained in the memory. Indeed, this bright
light may well be that viewed through their closed eyelids and the voice may well be that of doctors or friends.
To accept these experiences as real and allow them to contradict the clear teaching of Scripture is foolish. We must take such experiences as suspect, but truly the experience of the person.
We might well be glad for the usual change of life for the better in the people that have had these experiences.
Heaven will undoubtedly be a picture of all that God is and all that He can do, so we can only hint at what it might be like.
HELL
Hell is a subject that is very much misunderstood by many people, both saved and lost. As this study progresses some of these mistaken concepts will be mentioned.
We don't have a lot of information about the eternal state of the lost person, yet we have enough facts to give the thinking person reason to consider carefully the Lord's work on the cross for them.
Many today suggest that we shouldn't scare people into hell. To this I ask, "Why did Christ talk so much about it for then?" I have heard many many testimonies of people that accepted the Lord because they had heard of hell and did not want to go there. Fear of the Lord may well involve the fear of his judgments and justice.
Let us begin with a story. A man died and found himself near a large entry way. He was ushered into a large mansion, and was told that all that he desired would be presented to him. He began asking for the many things that he had enjoyed on earth. All these items were delivered immediately. He began to ask for things that he had never had on earth, and these as well were delivered.
He realized after a time that all of the items he had desired had grown common and uninteresting. He requested to see the earth again, and this was granted. He gazed upon the sickness, poverty and war. His return to his mansion and things left him yearning for something more.
The man finally asked if he could have a peek into the place of torment — hell. The man standing before him asked, "So where do you think you are?" (adapted from Woodson, Leslie H., "Hell And Salvation"; Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1973, p 35)
Many in our day question the existence of hell. It has been reported that someone said to Hugh Hephner, the publisher of Playboy magazine, at a party, "If there is a hell — I'd sure hate to be you."
VIEWS OF HELL
There are four major schools of thought concerning hell.
1. It Is Everlasting Punishment:
Some that have defended and preached this position: Tertullian, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Wesley brothers, Chrysostom, Ambrose, Wyclif, Savonarola, Whitefield, Edwards, Spurgeon, Moody , and many others.
Some creeds and works that have proclaimed this position: Athanasian Creed, Augsburg Confession, The City Of God by Augustine, Summa Theologica by Lombard, Institutes of the Christian Religion by Calvin, Paradise Lost by Milton, and Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyon.
Simply put the position views hell as an eternal torment for the lost of all ages. Hell is a general term for the place. It is also known in the eternal state as the lake of fire. In the pre-resurrections era it is termed Sheol.
Some view hell as a place where the lost go, but never realize that Sheol and the Lake of Fire are also involved.
2. It Is Annihilation:
This position holds that God and good are eternal, but that Satan and evil are temporary and will be destroyed in the end. This translates into the lost being annihilated in the end.
Some of those holding this thought: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Richard Wahatley, Richard Tothe, Albert Ritschl, Horace Bushnell Franz Delitzsh, and Henry Drummond.
3. Universalism:
This view believes there is a remedial effect to hell, and that God is trying to turn His erring children around.
Some that teach the position: Origen, Charles Chauncy, Immanuel, Kant, Friedrich Schleiermacher, and Alfred Tennyson.
4. Second Chanceism:
This view sees that during this time before eternity that the rejectors are in torment, but this is only till the end at which time all will be given a second chance. Turn, and the torment is over. Indeed, I think that the Mormon's view that all will turn or be destroyed. When doing door to door evangelism in Colorado Springs years ago I was witnessing to a Mormon and he told me that he believed that hell was for the purification of those that did not believe in this life. All would one day accept Mormon teachings of God or be destroyed.
THE PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION IS
UNIVERSAL IN GOD'S PLAN
1. This can be seen in the nature of the soul. Man was created in the image of God. From the beginning of a soul it must be eternal toward the future to be in the image of God. If an eternal soul is not in a fit condition to be with God, then there must be a place for that soul to reside throughout eternity.
2. Separation is a principal of life and nature. The dead are separated from the living. We separate the criminals from the good citizens. (At least in most countries. I'm not sure about the US anymore.) Garbage is separated from good food. Trash is separated from good items. Lepers were separated from healthy people before there was a cure for the disease. Christ will separate souls, the good from the bad. "Those who refuse life in God become 'refuse' in character sooner or later, and in the nature of things must be removed to a place apart." (Dixon)
3. From the principle of Consequence. No consequence — no restraint. That's why God gave capital punishment — to deter killing. He gave hell to deter sin and rebellion. This has a very strong effect on those that believe in hell or eternal punishment. Many religions have very strong — good behaviour due to their teaching of torment.
4. History tells us that a place of torment is a universal concept. All peoples have tried to please the gods to escape future punishment. They have all had some concept of good place/bad place. The burial crypts of the world give evidence of a belief in an afterlife. The ancient civilizations placed food and water in containers so the person could have them in the next life. Indeed, some of them buried the wife and servants for the man to
enjoy in the next life. Most peoples have served gods of one sort or another out of fear of displeasing the god involved.
5. Luke 16:21 and context show there is existence after death.
6. All of Scripture declares a place of punishment.
THE TERMS
In the New Testament there are three Greek words translated Hell.
1. "Gehen'na" (gheh'en nah) Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem (Taken from: "Unger's Bible Dictionary"; Unger, Merrill F.; Copyright 1957, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission. pp 394,395) "...a deep, narrow glen to the south of Jerusalem, where the Jews offered their children to Moloch (2 Kings 23:10; [Verses 13,14 show it was a burning place for corpses (Josiah did this. Also 2 Chronicles 33:6] Jeremiah 7:31; 19:2-6). In later times it served as a receptacle of all sorts of putrefying matter, and all that defiled the holy city, and so became the representative image of the place of everlasting punishment, especially on account of its ever-burning fires; and to this fact the words of Christ refer when he says 'the fire is not quenched.'"
In Christ's day this dump burned day and night. This is probably the final resting place and probably is equal to the lake of fire in Revelation.
2. "hades" This word is indicative of the intermediate state for the Old Testament dead, and since Christ the dwelling place of the unrighteous dead.
Things to be learned from this term.
a. Lost of Old Testament are in misery from death.
b. Lost of New Testament are in misery from death.
c. Saved of Old Testament were there until the resurrection of Christ, but now are gone. (Luke 16:19-31 shows the two sides of hades. Acts 2:27 shows David was to be there for a time. David was looking forward to Christ's resurrection when he spoke of hades. Verse 31 shows he was taken out at Christ's resurrection.)
Revelation 20:13 shows hades giving up the lost souls at the end. Revelation 20:14 mentions that hades is cast into the lake of fire. This term is also translated grave. 1 Corinthians 15:55, "Oh grave, where is thy victory."
The joy of the study is that Hades cannot hold the redeemed, for it could not hold Christ.
3. "Tar taro'o" This word is only used once. 2 Peter 2:4. Angels cast into hell to await judgment. This may be the name for the great gulf that is mentioned in the Luke 16 passage. Most feel that II Peter is speaking of this location.
THE LOCATION
I once heard a young Methodist theologian mention that hell was, "Southern California." I don't think that this would be a provable fact, and YES, he was joking.
I would like to just list some references and some information that we can draw from them. Numbers 16:30,33 indicates that it is below the surface of the earth in the Old Testament times. Luke 16:23 indicates that it was still below in the New Testament period of time.
As to the lake of fire which will be the eternal dwelling place of the lost, we are not told in scripture just where it is. Some feel that Isaiah 66:22-24 speaks of the redeemed being able to view the lost in the eternal state. Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 22:15 also indicate this as a possibility. If this be true, then there is a possibility that it is just outside the New Jerusalem as the original hell of Christ's time was. That city dump of the New Testament day.
BASIS OF OCCUPANCY
Just who will occupy this place of torment, and why. The Scripture teaches that all mankind will be judged according to his or her works. Within this concept is one special consideration and that is the decision for or against Christ. The decision to accept Christ places the person in eternal joy, while a decision to reject Christ places the person in eternal torment.
After this decision is made there is still a principle of being judged according to the works of the person.
Indeed, the Great White Throne shows there will be levels of torment in that they are judged according to their works. The redeemed receive a varying reward, thus it would also be logical that the lost would also receive a varying degree of torment.
For the saved, works will determine the amount and type of rewards. The lost will be tormented according to their works. Lost is lost, yet there will be levels of being tormented it seems. (Romans 2:5,6, "Who will render to every man according to his deeds:"; Matthew 11:20-24 mentions that it will be more tolerable for some cities than others in the judgment/Matthew 10:15 is a similar idea; Luke 12:47,48 I don't like to base things on parables, yet this one seems to indicate our point; Revelation 20:12,13, vs 13, "...and they were judged every man according to their works.")
Even some of the isms of our day teach this concept of works being a part of judgment. Zoroastrianism for example teaches that the person must pass a bridge of judgment. If his good works outweigh his bad the bridge is wide and easy to cross. However if his bad works outweigh his good the bridge becomes narrow as a blade as he reaches the middle and he slides into hell. Hell is a temporary place for these souls, but while there they are tortured beyond belief. This torture is according to their lives and how they lived. I ran across an illustration of the type of torture. A man that had committed adultery was placed in a boiling pot, but because he had killed many dirty creatures with his foot, the foot was left out of the pot so it would not suffer. (From Persian Mythology; John R. Hinnells; Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited; London; 1973) P 66)
There won't be any complaint about final punishment it seems. Luke 16:29-31 tells us that the rich man did not complain about anything. His only desire was to keep his brothers from the same fate.
DURATION
We have already seen that some believe that this is a forever situation while others see it as a temporary situation. Forever or annihilation is the question. The word for eternal seems to be eternal in nature at all times.
"That the 'second death' ('Lake of Fire') or gehenna is not annihilation is shown clearly by Revelation 19:20 and 20:10. After 1000 years in the Like of Fire the Beast and False Prophet still exist there undestroyed." (Taken from: "Unger's Bible Dictionary"; Unger, Merrill F.; Copyright 1957, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission. pp 394,395) Rev.19:20 states that the Beast and False Prophet into Lake of Fire; 20:3 sets time before Millennium; 20:10 shows that the Devil is cast in 1000 years later and the Beast and False Prophet are still there.)
There are a couple of other indications that would show that the condition of the lost is not annihilation. The angels in hell do not seem to be annihilated either. (2 Peter 2:4) We have seen that Revelation 20:13 and others show punishment is according to works. Why judge according to works if all are to be consumed?
The fallen angels, including Satan will be in the lake of fire, and they are ever living spirit beings. When man dies, they become a spirit being, thus by deduction man also would be an ever living being as well.
Eternal hell is the easiest interpretation you can find. Any other interpretation is forced and causes doctrinal problems. Since the same term is used of God and hell, to have one mean the stopping of existence and another usage to show continuing existence is illogical.
LIVING CONDITIONS
I will just list some conditions with references and some comments.
Darkness: Psalm 49:19 "never see light"; 1 Samuel 2:7-9 they will be silent in darkness (same word) as in Genesis 1:4 God divided light from darkness.
If you go into a seemingly dark room you will find after awhile that you will be able to see something. But deep darkness is not so. While in the Navy I needed a part to repair the radar. We were with a number of other ships during a war games situation, so the radar was needed right away. During such operations the ships run under what is called "darken ship" condition. This means that all outside hatches are closed and no light is allowed out on deck. The parts area was not accessible to me from the radar room by going inside the ship, so I was forced to go out on deck.
Remember — no light — none — and it was very cloudy on top of everything which meant no star or moon light. Dark is the term. Imagine trying to walk outside on the deck unable to see anything — groping with your hands — hoping nothing is in you way — the ship pitching and rolling slightly — just enough to make it hard to keep you orientation. When you finally see light there is such an overwhelming relief.
Imagine — eternity — ever in darkness — in fear of what's around you. How many of you were afraid of the dark when you were small. I used to get just as scared as Ichabod Craine did in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod was riding on a dark lonely road. Fear was already in his mind. "Suddenly he heard a groan — his teeth chattered, and his knees smote against the saddle; it was but the rubbing of one huge bough upon another, as they were swayed about by the breeze. He passed the tree in safety, but new perils lay before him." He sees an unknown rider in the shadows. I won't continue with the story because of its length, but I think that you get the idea.
I trust that you have some concept of what the lost will go through in everlasting darkness. Matthew 8:12 mentions outer darkness as well.
Binding: Those that say they'll be shaking hands with friends may be wrong. From Matthew 22:13 we see they will be unable to use their hands and feet. If this is true then the muscular discomfort will be tremendous. We went to a service in a home. The service was in the basement. The service ended in a time of prayer. We kneeled for prayer. The room was crowded and there was little room to kneel. I only had room to get down on one knee. Before it was over my legs were giving me fits. I was very near tears because of the pain in my knees.
The armed forces have developed ways of placing people in a completely immobile state. They are floated in a body of water for prolonged periods of time. This is with no sight and sound — it is very disorientating.
What could you do in a motionless state? You could think about things — dream — worry — etc., but sooner or later the inactivity would begin to wear heavy on a person mentally.
Separation: Have you ever stared at the stars and just let your mind wonder — how far away they are, how lonely they seem. The lost will be separated from one another.
Imagine never using eyes, hands, feet. Total separation from everything but torment and thoughts. The voice will only be used for cries of torment. There will be no one near enough to talk to, or hear you. Jude 13 mentions wandering stars which indicates a separation. At any rate it is a certainty that it is a separation from God and all that is good.
Memory: Luke 16 pictures the rich man as remembering his brothers that have not died. (No Hope, Isaiah 38:18; Proverbs 11 7, "When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; and the hope of unjust men perisheth."
Fire: There will be fire. The type of fire has been questioned over the years. Since there is darkness, there cannot be light from fire, which leads some to believe that it will be a very hot and pure fire. (Jude 7 "...eternal fire...."; Matthew 5:22; Mark 9:44.)
Questionable Companions: Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15.
Lust And Desire: Revelation 22:11.
Pain And Torment: Luke 16:23 "...being in torments...."; Luke 16:24 "...I am tormented in this flame."
Conclusions:
Maybe now when we talk about the lost you will have a more concerned attitude. Christianity needs a healthy dose of the Hell fire and brimstone preaching of yester year to stir their hearts. Men, women, boys and girls are going to hell everyday. Our responsibility is to tell them of the saving power of Christ.
The Lost. Think about their state. God has prepared for Christians a mighty, glorious abode. A city of mansions. A city for His own people. I have no doubt that hell will be just as horrible for the sinner as heaven is glorious for the saint.
As I've said, "Hell is only a four letter word." But remember its home for the lost for eternity and that makes it a mighty important word. The next
time you ask someone where they're going and they reply, "To hell if I don't change my ways.", will you still feel like laughing?
Hell must, by proper interpretation of Scripture be a place, a place of torment, a place of eternal torment run on a system of levels so that the damned can be judged according to their works.
The only escape route from this horrible destiny is through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. So what, some would say. Let me illustrate. In the Navy we had to go through fire fighting training. They had a large oil pond they would set afire. We had to move in with an umbrella spray unit that protected us from the heat. As we were fairly near they shut the water off (which was protecting us from the heat) for just an instant. The heat was tremendous — our faces were in immediate pain though we weren't burned. They did this to show us how dangerous fire could be when it was that large. If you've experienced great heat you'll have some idea of what the lost are enduring now and what the living lost face.
As a child I used to think that pain was mind over matter. I used to love to swing higher and higher, but to go high you had to work at it. I used to wear blisters on my hands. I always tried to put the pain out of my mind, but never succeeded. This is only a trifle when compared to the pain and flame of hell. Can you imagine having to suffer that pain forever?
As you cannot imagine how glorious heaven is going to be you cannot imagine how horrible hell is going to be. If the demons were in fear of Hell and torment it must be bad.
Another point to ponder. Scripture does not teach that God gives you a second chance. Some teach today that God will hold up judgment long enough to give everyone a second chance to accept Christ. This is false hope and false teaching. As breath leaves your body your eternity is sealed — your destiny is set. Getting to your final dwelling place is only a very brief formality.
Hell — a four letter cuss word now, but the most significant word of all to the lost. Consider Hell as you witness. It might put a little fire into your witnessing.
I would suggest reading some of the old time sermons from Moody, Spurgeon etc. to get a feel of some of the preaching on hell. Many of the great revivals were based in part on the clear preaching of hell. Don't be afraid to preach on hell today. I have ventured onto this limb a number of times and the response has been very positive. Indeed, some have been saved, even in the 80's and 90's with such preaching.
Christ spoke often of hell and the conditions there, so we as His followers ought to preach of the same.
THEOLOGY — CAN'T FAIL QUIZ
This is a test I have given to classes on eschatology before the study begins. It is a study that will show you what you know or don't know, as the case may be. Feel free to leave blanks or guess to your hearts desire. As you progress through the study you will be able to check your answers.
List the following items on the time line provided below.
Tribulation
Church Age
Kingdom
Eternity
Lake of Fire
Resurrection of the dead Church age
Translation of the living church age
Resurrection of the Jews
Resurrection of the lost
Great White Throne
Judgment seat of Christ
Satan's captivity
DEFINE THE FOLLOWING TERMS
1. The Rapture:
2. Partial Rapture:
3. Tribulation:
4. The Great Tribulation:
5. Midtribulationism:
6. Posttribulationism:
7. Millennium:
8. Amillennialism:
9. Premillennialism:
10. Postmillennialism:
11. Kingdom Theology:
12. Covenant Theology:
13. The Great White Throne:
14. The Judgment Seat Of Christ:
15. Heaven:
16. Hell:
17. Allegorical Interpretation:
18. Literal Interpretation:
This is a listing of books, authors, and positions. I trust that these are placed in the proper theological positions. I have listed the men and their books as I or some other author has viewed them. I trust that if there are errors in judgment in any of these listings that the men involved would contact me so that any mistakes can be corrected in future copies. The original list that I worked from is found on pages 123-126 of Prophecy In The Ring by Robert P. Lightner, however I have added to this list over time.
AMILLENNIALISM
Adams, Jay. "The Time Is At Hand"
Allis, O.T. "Prophecy And The Church"
Cox, William E. "Amillennialism Today"
Hamilton, Floyd E. "The Basis Of Millennial Faith"
POSTMILLENNIALISM
Boettner, Loraine. "The Millennium"
Kik, J. M. "Matthew Twenty-Four Revelation Twenty"
Warfield,
Orr, James
Snowden, James H.
PREMILLENNIALISM
Fineberg, C. L. "Premillennialism Or Amillennialism?"
McClain, Alva J. "The Greatness Of The Kingdom"
Pentecost, J. Dwight "Things To Come"
Ryrie, Charles C. "The Basis Of Premillennial Faith"
Walvoord, John F. "The Millennial Kingdom"
COVENANT PREMILLENNIALISM
Ladd "Crucial Questions About The Kingdom Of God"
MIDREIBULATIONISM
Harrison, Norman B. "The End"
PARTIAL RAPTURISM
Brubaker, Ray. "The Purpose Of The Great Tribulation"
Lang, G. H. "The Revelation Of Jesus Christ"
POSTTRIBULATIONISM
Gundry, Robert H. "The Church And The Tribulation"
Ladd, George E. "That Blessed Hope"
Payne, J. Barton. "The Imminent Appearing Of Christ"
Reese, Alexander. "The Approaching Advent Of Christ"
PRETRIBULATIONISM
English, E. Schuyler. "Re-Thinking The Rapture"
Walvoord, John F. "The Rapture Question"
Wood, Leon J. "Is The Rapture Next"
ANTI-DISPENSATIONALISM
Bass, Clarence B. "Backgrounds To Dispensationalism"
Cox, William E. "An Examination Of Dispensationalism"
Kraus, C. Norma. "Dispensationalism In America"
DISPENSATIONALISM
Barndollar, W. W. "The Validity Of Dispensationalism"
Chafer, Lewis Sperry "Dispensations"
Ryrie, Charles C. "Dispensationalism Today"
Darby, J. N. D.
Kelley, William
Gaebelein, F.
Torrey, R.A.
Scofield, C.I.
Ironside, Harry
BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
Ramm, Bernard. "Protestant Biblical Interpretation"
Tan, Paul Lee. "The Interpretation Of Prophecy"
GENERAL BOOKS
Clouse, R. G. "The Meaning Of The Millennium: Four Views"
Some thoughts on how to properly interpret the gospels.
The importance of how you interpret a text was brought home to me many years ago in a graduate class where the professor would assign a text for study and then bring us together for a discussion. He was an expert at forming the class into the different positions that came from the study, and then pitting those groups against one another to show how poorly we had studied. He once assigned the text of Job 19:25-26 and asked us to determine what the text was about. The discussion went on for three class sessions before he taught the proper interpretation. There were three different views that seemed very good, yet all three groups failed to determine the context of the passage. Once the context was set before us we realized the meaning of the passage.
So it is in the gospels when you determine to interpret. The context, the audience and the speaker all go together to determine what age the information is meant for. There are some texts that are definitely for those living under the law, there are texts that are definitely for those that were going to live in the kingdom that Christ was offering, and there are texts that are for the coming church age. The question is, just which are which.
We submit the following as a guide to begin your interpretation of the gospels with.
1. Pay Close Attention To The Context: For example Luke 10:1-3 is not for the church, but Matthew 28:16-20 is. Look at the context to determine.
2. Pay Close Attention To The Recipient: If Christ was speaking to Jews, then the information is for Jews. If he was talking to Old Testament saints then He was not talking to you, however there may be some application to you since you are a saint. Just one outrageous example would be the account of the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus wound up in bliss while the rich man ended in torment. Now, would we apply the rich man's situation to ourselves — believers and the position of Lazarus to the lost of our day? NO.
3. Determine Whether The Principle Is Stated Elsewhere In The New Testament: For example some might suggest because of Matthew 10:9,10 we should have no material possessions. "...provide neither gold, nor silver, nor copper in your purses, nor a bag for your journey neither
two coats, neither shoes, nor yet a staff...." This is not a principle for our day. It is not mentioned as a lifestyle anywhere in scripture. Indeed, Christ contrasts this Himself to another lifestyle for those in a different situation in Luke 22:35-36.
Don't claim promises blindly. Look at the context, recipient and whether it is taught in the epistles before applying it to yourself. The epistles are for church use and we have no question about them, so they can assist us in determining other texts.
If the truth fits the general tenor of the epistles then it probably is usable for today. Christ spoke of meekness in the sermon on the mount which is definitely kingdom information.
The fruit of the Spirit seems to give that principle validity in our day so that meekness should be desired by the church age believer. The problem is that the meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Do the epistles mention that the church will inherit the earth? No, and indeed we will not inherit the earth. This is not a promise for us though we can draw the principle of meekness from it.
4. Determine What Dispensation Is In View: Christ made quite a promise in Matthew 6:33.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
and all of these things shall be added unto you."
See, he will give me everything I want. That is the usual misinterpretation. First the context speaks of those needs of living that we have and not desires. Second, the promise is to the one that seeks His kingdom. The kingdom in Christ's mind was the Jewish kingdom that He was offering — the Millennial kingdom. So, if you are seeking the millennium, He will see to your needs.
This text is for those looking for the kingdom and no one else. This is not a promise for me today. However, there is an application for me in this day. As I seek His righteousness and His future, I know that He will supply all that I need. This is a general principle throughout scripture. God always takes care of His people.
5. Realize That God's Revelation Is Progressive: The gospel record is information for that day and time, while the epistles were meant for a later day and time. The information given to Moses was not meant to be carried forward to the church age. An example if this is the sacrificial system. It is no longer needed because Christ completed the sacrifice for sin on the cross. The Old Testament may relate to our day. The writer of Hebrews uses many of the people of that age in Chapter Eleven to produce the great text on living by faith. This shows that the information is not specifically for us, yet we can find application to our lives in those specifics.
The idea of examples of men is also related by Paul in Philippians 3:17 and 2 Thessalonians 3:9. Christ when he cleansed the temple was not telling us to cleanse the churches, we disagree with, though we can apply His action by being indignant at wrong activities.