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PREMILLENNIALISM AND A NEW GENERATION

Dennis Gulledge

The false doctrine of premillennialism has been around for almost two thousand years, and yet it has absolutely no basis in the Bible.  Papias (c. 60-130) of Hierapolis in Asia Minor advanced millennial views, believing that there would be a period of a thousand years after the resurrection of Christ during which the kingdom of Christ would be set up in a material way.  When the millennium did not occur with Jesus’ resurrection some began to rethink the event that would initiate its beginning.  It was decided that perhaps the return of Christ would be that event.  The beliefs of Papias were pervasive enough that the churches of the first half of the second century were generally aware of the premillennial theory that he advanced.

     Many later writers such as Origen, Dionysius of Alexandria, Eusebius and Augustine, came out against millenarian views to the extent that the theory went into sharp decline.  Premillennialism was almost a dead issue for the next thousand years.  In the Reformation period some began to espouse millennial views again.  The popular views included both premillennialism and postmillennialism.  Biblical exegetes of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries paid tribute to millennial ideas in their popular commentaries.  Fiery preachers let their voices ring from the pulpits, groves and brush arbors in the cities and the country with eschatological excitement.  Men such as William Miller predicted the return of Christ in 1843 and 1844.  By 1875 a new brand of premillennialism called Dispensationalism spread like wildfire in the United States.  J. N. Darby, a former priest in the Anglican Church of Ireland, brought this speculative dogma to the United States.  C. I. Scofield taught it in his Scofield Reference Bible, still widely used today. Televangelists, charismatic preachers, self-styled prophets and popular religious authors freely advance his views still today.

     Premillennial views made inroads into the Lord’s church in the early part of the twentieth century largely through the influence of R. H. Boll.  Foy E. Wallace, Jr. is credited with stalemating premillennialism among churches of Christ in his lifetime.  In 1970 Hal Lindsey immortalized himself in his Dispensational treatise, The Late Great Planet Earth.  Lately, Dispensational premillennialism has seen a revival among a new generation of readers in the Left Behind series of books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.  The books are selling like hotcakes!  What will be the extent of the influence these books will have?  They even target children!  How many Christians will be unsettled in their minds because they prefer LaHaye and Jenkins to the Bible?

MY PERSON VIEWS - Garreth L. Clair

Premillennialism is a false doctrine that has permeated most main-line denominations in religion today. The doctrine is of purely human origin with no true Biblical origins, except the misuse of some Old Testament passages and a misuse of Matthew 24 and some passages in Thessalonians and the Revelation. The imaginary of Hal Lindsey and other writers are so ridiculous that their published books ought to be placed in the science fiction section of libraries and not in church libraries or religious locations – they do not belong in the sphere of religious thought at all but belong in the realm of fairy tales and science fiction.

Articles Selected or edited by Garreth L. Clair—6/7/2005

glclair@sbcglobal.net

Our prayer is that we will be able to aid in the great work of teaching and encouraging people from all walks of life to take a little time and look at the evidence for God’s existence, His love for mankind, and His Holy Book (i.e., the BIBLE).

Go to: http://bible.com

PSALMS 23:1-6

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

NKJV BIBLE

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THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS COMING!

There will never again be a great flood to cover the whole earth, but there will be another day of judgment coming for all mankind. As one reads the account of the first judgment of humanity in - Gen 6:5-10,

5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." 8 But Noah  found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the genealogy of Noah . Noah  was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah  walked with God. NKJV

God's promise to never destroy the earth again with a great flood - Gen 9:15-17, 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." 17 And God said to Noah , "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me a. NKJV

God's second judgment is coming - Rev 20:12-21:1,

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire . This is the second death.   15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire . NKJV

Prepare now and avoid the clamity that is to befall the wicked - Eccl. 12:13-14

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,

For this is man's all.

14 For God will bring every work into judgment,

Including every secret thing,

Whether good or evil. NKJV