Article VI
(Having previously noted that the land promise made by God to Abraham has been fulfilled, that God's promise to restore Israel to Palestine was conditional and fulfilled, that the "kingdom" of Isaiah 2, Daniel 2, and Micah 4 has been established, that Christ is reigning on the throne of David and that the church was a part of God's eternal plan for the redemption of man and not an afterthought or a substitute for a postponed kingdom, each of which makes impossible the doctrine of Premillennialism, we now take up yet another tenet of this false doctrine. Each of these points are being considered for the purpose of demonstrating that the Bible does not teach this error, and that any man who does teach it violates the Bible.)
The Premillenial advocates teach that the church
will be "raptured". They contend that I Corinthians 15:51-52 and
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 show that a rapture of seven years will occur,
but this is false. I Corinthians 15:51-54 is the conclusion of the
whole chapter dealing with resurrection. Consider: "But each
in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's,
at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the
kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule
and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put
all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be abolished
is death...Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep,
but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at
the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be
raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible
must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal
shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that
is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (I Corinthians 15:23-26;
51-54, ASV). Now, what happens when Christ comes as per these verses?
1) The end of time occurs. 2) The kingdom will be delivered back
to God (not received from him). 3) All opposition to God will have
been overcome. 4) The end of Christ's reign will occur (not the beginning).
5) Death will be destroyed. Notice that there is no time allowed
in these verses for a seven year rapture! The only way for it to
happen (as per these verses) is for God to have not told us about it.
And what about I Thessalonians 4:13-18?
These verses show a similar picture (as to the righteous saints) when Christ
comes:
"But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that
fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that
are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say
unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left
unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen
asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the
dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left,
shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort
one another with these words" (I Thessalonians 4:13-18, ASV). By
these verses, then, when Christ comes: 1) The Resurrection will occur.
2) The dead in Christ will rise first. 3) The alive in Christ will
be caught up to Christ in the air. 4) The christians will have overcome
death and will ever be with the Lord. John 5:28-29 shows that at
this same time the wicked shall also be raised and judged by God.
There is simply no time for a 7 year rapture period in the scriptural accounts
of the end of time.
Tim Smith
1272 Enon Road
Webb, AL 36376
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PREMILLENNIALISM: IS IT TRUE?
Article VII
(Having noted before points demonstrating the errors of this doctrine, we now come to our final study, and when it is finished we ask all who have read and studied with us to renounce this error once and for all.)
Those who advocate this error contend that Revelation 20:4 teaches a literal millennial reign of Christ on earth. First, hear the verses: "And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this time he must be loosed for a little time. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand: and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Revelation 20:1-4, ASV). John saw the souls of martyred christians and faithful christians, not their bodies. (This is Revelation 6:10 answered and fulfilled). That figurative language is being employed, and not literal, is seen by the phrases in verses 1-3: Abyss (bottomless pit, KJV); Dragon; Chain to bind Satan; 1000 years. In the context, the 1000 years does not have to be literal. God often uses this in a figurative way [Psalm 50:10; Deuteronomy 7:9; Exodus 20:6], and in this context it is clearly so used. Verse 4 pictures dead saints reigning with Christ. It does not, however, mention: 1) The final coming of Christ. 2) The bodily resurrection from the grave. 3) A reign on earth (of any kind). 4) A literal throne in Jerusalem. 5) The rapture [a word not found in the Bible]. 6) The physical kingdom of Israel being restored. Verse 4 does show the reign of Christ with the souls of dead christians while time continues in the heavenly realm (as Christ continues to reign over his spiritual kingdom, the church). There is no place in God's plan for a 1000 year reign upon the earth.
CONCLUSION:
We have shown that each of the tenets of premillennialism
is false. To accept premillennialism is to deny the power of God
(the gospel) and the sacrifice of his Son. The gospel of Christ is
the power of God to save. It involves the death, burial and resurrection
of Christ. Therefore Christ had to suffer for the sins of mankind
for God to be a just God. Sin demanded a perfect sacrifice.
Premillennialism preaches a different gospel, one that has God putting
Christ here the first time to be king on earth and having his rejection
and death as a surprise to God. Paul told the Galatians to reject
all gospels which differed from the true one (Galatians 1:6-9).
Are you a christian? Have you heard and believed the gospel (John 8:24, Hebrews 11:6), repented of sins (Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38), confessed faith in Christ (Acts 8:37-38), and been baptized in water to have your sins washed away (Acts 22:16)? Are you being faithful (Revelation 2:10)? If not, call on us at the Enon church of Christ.
Tim Smith
1272 Enon Road
Webb, AL 36376
(The outline for this study was taken from class notes from my days at the BELLVIEW PREACHER TRAINING SCHOOL).
VOLUME XIX July 14, 1996 Number 28
HOSPITAL NEWS: We know of no one in the hospital at this time.
HOMECOMING AND GOSPEL MEETING: Allan Ammons is scheduled to be here July 21-26 for our meeting. Service times are: Sunday -- 9:45 A.M.; 10:45 A.M.; and 6:00 P.M. Monday through Friday -- 7:00 P.M. Plan to be with us.
"SPEAKING WHERE THE BIBLE SPEAKS" -- NEW TELEVISION SHOW. Our program has been scheduled for THURSDAY AT 7:00 P.M. each week, with a replay on SUNDAY AT 1:00 P.M. We invite you to watch this, tell your friends and neighbors about it, and help us make this a success. You may come to the taping on Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. if you wish. The program airs on GRACEBA CABLE CHANNEL 6.
If Jesus came today, where would you be tomorrow?