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| Ask Thirsty: The Lamest Eschatology Post Ever |
In my last Ask Thirsty post, I promised to answer your questions concerning my eschatology. I also promised that my answers would be disappointing. I will now demonstrate that I am a man of my word. I anticipate being taken outside the camp and stoned afterwards.
Kristina asked, “Are you pre, mid, or post-trib rapture...and if not one of those, then what? And why.”
I believe in a pretribulation, premillenial rapture – sort of. I am really not willing to engage in any debate on the subject, because I know I stand on shaky ground in this area (smart-alecky remarks at Jeremy’s amillennial debut notwithstanding). I do not mean that my eschatological view is on shaky ground. I mean that my claim to that view is not entirely legitimate. A legitimate right to be dogmatic is based on a thorough exegetical study of Scripture. I cannot say I have done that concerning eschatology. My study of eschatology consists of a few books on the subject, a few sermons and lectures, and more recently, a few blog articles by some smart people who say I am wrong.
I tentatively take this position for two reasons.
First, the premillennial view seems to me to be the best-supported by Scripture and most consistent with a literal grammatical-historical hermeneutic. I know, the amillennialist make the same claim, but the amillennial view seems to allegorize things that can reasonably be taken literally. Still, when men like Jeremy Weaver and Jason Robertson, who demonstrate a legitimate claim to their views, take the time to explain why they are amillennial, I consider their arguments and am less willing than ever to be dogmatic about it. They’ve got a right to write eschatological polemics because they’ve done the work.
Second, the premillenial view is also held by the men whose hermeneutics I trust the most. They are right about all the things I am willing to bet on, like soteriology, ecclesiology, the ordinances, and the sufficiency of Scripture. They must be right about eschatology, also, don’t you think? Well, maybe not. That’s why my position is tentative.
Honestly, the only reason I even say this much about it is that I am so tired of hearing the “I’m panmillennial” line. I mean, really! If you’ve read the Bible through more than once, you’ve got to have some germ of an opinion. So, I say this is the direction I’m leaning, and I’m leaning pretty hard; but you won’t find me teaching any Sunday school classes on it. I’m too afraid of my amillennial pastor.
Jeremy asked, “How much of a preterist are you?”
I wouldn’t have asked like that, but I guess it might be a good question. I have often observed that the right question concerning both dispensational and covenant theologies is not “which,” but “how much.” That is, everyone is, to some degree, both. In my understanding of preterism, though, I don’t know if that’s true. Must I be a preterist, to some degree? As I understand it, preterists believe that the tribulation prophesies have been fulfilled (I don’t). Hyper-preterists believe that the second coming has already occurred (I obviously don’t). What would I have to believe to be just a minimal preterist? Educate me.
Well, that’s where I am. Looking over this post, I see that it is not only lame as promised, it is not even very well written. At least you can give me credit for choosing an apt title, and being able to type long words repeatedly. That has to be worth something.
And now, with fear and trepidation, I click save.
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12 Comments:
Pastor Way
You could always side with Spurgeon and me!
Historic Premil - that is, keep the premillennial, but toss the pre-trib rapture.
~pw :)
Rey
I like MacArthur's "Leaky Dispensationalist". After my eschatology study I came to these conclusions:
1) Dispensationalism's structure seems to work but it needs a new name. Maybe Stewardshipism
2) The Rapture: before, middle, after? I'd lean with before or middle but fully confident that in the end, God's going to do something mind-blowing
3) I'm not opinionated. I'm just always right.
=)
Garry Weaver
You have stated my position exactly. I am pre-mil, pre-trib, but I am willing to be convinced by scripture if I'm wrong. I used to think I had all the answers to all things prophetic, but now I'm not even sure what all the questions are, let alone the answers. Someday, maybe, I'll restudy the subject with an open mind, if the rapture doesn't happen first.
David
You could always side with Spurgeon and me!
I'll bet you enjoyed typing that! I guess, for now, I'll have to go with "MacArthur and me." That sounds pretty good, too.
Steve Weaver
As I understand it 'preterism' mainly has to do with how much of Matthew 24 has been fulfilled. The hyper-preterist view is clearly heretical. I'm glad you're not a hyper-preterist! I think everyone should be at least a partial preterist, i.e., the Temple in Jerusalem has been destroyed! Preterism may not be the most helpful term, however, since it is often loaded with other connotations. R.C. Sproul's book The Last Days According to Jesus deals with this issue very helpfully, if not conclusively. He raises more questions than he answers, but the questions are good ones.
sibert
If you drop the pretrib, then who is Christ having the marriage supper of the lamb with? Who is Christ married to? These are important questions. Jesus held the Jews of his day responsible for knowing the exact date that He would walk into Jerusalem, to the day, from studying Daniel which they all had at their disposal. We all have a responsiblity to study these things and are even promised a special blessing for studying The Revelation of Jesus Christ. We also have a responsibility to honesty and I think being overly dogmatic is doing a disservice to honest reservations that you should have if you deeply consider. LOVE EACHOTHER (and don't bring this garbage about doing a service of love by disillusioning people who simply have a legitimate disagreement). Incidentally, have you even mentioned The Name out loud today, have you been in the Word today, have you spoken with theFather today?
sibert
If you drop the pretrib, then who is Christ having the marriage supper of the lamb with? Who is Christ married to? These are important questions. Jesus held the Jews of his day responsible for knowing the exact date that He would walk into Jerusalem, to the day, from studying Daniel which they all had at their disposal. We all have a responsiblity to study these things and are even promised a special blessing for studying The Revelation of Jesus Christ. We also have a responsibility to honesty and I think being overly dogmatic is doing a disservice to honest reservations that you should have if you deeply consider. LOVE EACHOTHER (and don't bring this garbage about doing a service of love by disillusioning people who simply have a legitimate disagreement). Incidentally, have you even mentioned The Name out loud today, have you been in the Word today, have you spoken with theFather today?
sibert
soo sorry about the triple post (counting this one)!
Even So...
The Lamest Eschatology Post Ever
Also known as: The Truest Post Title Ever ;o)
Todd Bensel
That was a great post! I am also sort of "premillenial," sort of "post-tribulation" (whatever that means), and not amillenial or panmillenial. How weird is that?
Bob Hayton
I have heard that no less that R.C. Sproul himself said concerning eschatology, "I land like a butterfly with sore feet".
Personally, I have found this brief article by Vern Poythress very convincing in pushing me toward a thorough amillennialism.
Jon Edwards
Since thou hast said that thou art not willing to debate, I shall not ask thee to traverse to Google, MSN etc. and type in "Famous Rapture Watchers," "The Rapture Index (Mad Theology!)," "Letter from Mrs. Billy Graham," "Pretrib Rapture Diehards," and "Seeds of Armageddon Theology" - especially if thou hast had no thought of partaking of tranquilizers to calm thy troubled stirrings! But cheerest thou upest; it could mightily be worst and we couldest be of a surety living in some God-forsaken dungheap far and away. Sir Jon
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