Between Two Worlds

It has been my impression for the last few years that traditional dispensationalism has declined, despite the success of Left Behind and similar literature. At least that's the vibe I get talking to pastors and professors leading institutions once regarded as dispensational headquarters. That said, the ministry of pastor John Hagee reminds me that millions of evangelicals find in Scripture explicit eschatological reasons to support the modern state of Israel. If that's not your view, you might cringe while watching this video by Max Blumenthal at The Huffington Post. Be forewarned: When Blumenthal shows up at your doorstep, expect trouble.

HT: Ben Witherington

Here's the second chapter regarding Rev. 20:

Amillennialism and the Millennial Kingdom of Revelation 20 (2)

When I posted Sam Storms's chapter on Problems with Premillennialism, a number of folks asked about Revelation 20. So I've now posted online a PDF of his chapter on Amillennialism and the Millennial Kingdom of Revelation 20 (1). He devotes two chapters to Rev. 20; this is the first. Please note that it's a rough draft, not the final form as it will appear in the book.

I appreciate the way in which we've been discussing the eschatology issue. It's refreshing that we can have disagreements yet express them with gentleness and respect.

I don't intend to make eschatology a major focus of this blog. However, because so few have been able to access Sam Storms's article successfully, I thought it'd be worth making available in a different way. As it turns out, Storms has expanded the article into a chapter for a forthcoming book on eschatology. His website (samstorms.com) is due for an overhaul soon. In the meantime, he granted permission for me to post it on a temporary blog.

So here it is: Sam Storms on Problems with Premillennialism.

As a preview, Storms points out that if you are a Premillennialist (whether Dispensationalist or not), there are several things you must necessarily believe:

You must necessarily believe that physical death will continue to exist beyond the time of Christ’s second coming.

You must necessarily believe that the natural creation will continue, beyond the time of Christ’s second coming, to be subjected to the curse imposed by the fall of man.

You must necessarily believe that the New Heavens and New Earth will not be introduced until 1,000 years subsequent to the return of Christ.

You must necessarily believe that unbelieving men and women will still have the opportunity to come to saving faith in Christ for at least 1,000 years subsequent to his return.

You must necessarily believe that unbelievers will not be finally resurrected until at least 1,000 years subsequent to the return of Christ.

You must necessarily believe that unbelievers will not be finally judged and cast into eternal punishment until at least 1,000 years subsequent to the return of Christ.

Amillennialists--rightly, it seems to me--don't see these beliefs being taught in Scripture. If you're interested in the exegetical details, head over to Storms's article.

For those interested in studying eschatology--and who are open to considering an articulate case on behalf of ammillenialism--check out this series of studies by Sam Storms. (Sorry, the link won't work in Firefox, you have to use Explorer.)

I recently read Storms's overview on Problems with Premillennialism, which shows why premillennialism can't be squared with passages like 1 Cor. 15:22-28; 1 Cor. 15:50-57; Rom. 8:18-23; 2 Pet. 3:8-13; Matt. 25:31-46; 2 Thess. 1:5-10; and John 5:28-29.

In my (hopefully humble) opinion, these passages are clear that when Christ comes, it's "curtains" on sin and death. There will be a final judgment and a final resurrection, with a new heavens and a new earth.

Nowhere do I see Scripture teaching things like there being both glorified bodies and unglorified bodies on earth at the same time--and I have to confess that the idea of such seems quite unsettling and depressing to me.

I'm open to being persuaded that I'm wrong. Most of my exegetical heroes are pre-mill, post-trib. But books like Hans LaRondelle's The Israel of God in Prophecy and especially Anthony Hoekema's The Bible and the Future put me over the edge exegetically.

I know that this issue is a hot potato, a can of worms, or (insert your own cliche here ______). I recognize that people have strong feelings about this. So I ask that any interaction in the comments be measured and respectful. You can go after ideas, but not persons. And please use arguments instead of just stating opinions.