Many in our local church know that a couple of years ago I
relinquished my ordination credential with the Evangelical Free Church of
America. I did not do this lightly. I say this not only because I love this
association, its ethos, and its doctrinal statement, but also because the
credential, which I held for over twenty years, was not easy to get in the
first place.
Some of you may have forgotten or never heard why I did
this. It had to do with the very healthy requirement the EFCA has for ordained
pastors to reaffirm every point of our ten point doctrinal statement on a five
year basis—and to do it without mental reservation. When it came time for me to
do this at the end of 2013 and beginning of 2014, I could affirm with great
gladness 99% of the statement. The one part of it I could not affirm without
mental reservation is one word found in point #9: “We believe in the…premillennial return of our Lord
Jesus Christ.”
Because I believe Bible doctrine and biblical ethics are
very important, I take very seriously the signing of such statements and could
not be dishonest with our association leadership. For almost thirty years I
have been able to affirm the premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
However, since moving to Minden, further study I had done on the subject led me
to a different position.
Because of this, over the next few weeks I will blog about
what I believe about the end times, why I believe it, and so why I changed my
position.
Here are several points by way of clarification up front
before I begin discussing what I believe.
(1) For the
EFCA to require pastors like me to relinquish our credential when we cannot
affirm even one word in a doctrinal statement is the right thing to do! Though I may disagree now with the majority of
EFCA people about how things will be worked out in the end times, I
whole-heartedly agree with and love the association’s commitment to the Bible,
truth, and taking seriously its doctrinal statement. That I needed to
relinquish my credential adds to my respect for association leadership!
(2) Since the
EFCA does not require a pastor in the association to be credentialed in the
EFCA, the lack of a credential in no way jeopardizes my ministry in the EFCA.
(3) In
blogging on this subject I in no way am vying for the EFCA to change point #9
in its statement. Of course, if the word “premillennial” were removed, I would
be fine with it. However, I will not campaign for that. Such is not the purpose
of these blog posts. I merely want to share with my faith family, friends, and
others interested why I have switched my position. I also want to encourage all
followers of Jesus to think carefully through what the Bible teaches on this
subject.
(4) Though I
will offer a detailed analysis of why I have changed my position and will seek
to do so heartily, I also do so with a great deal of humility and sensitivity.
What one believes specifically about the nature of the millennium and related matters
is not one of the priority doctrines of the church. Though it is an important
topic to discuss, I don’t want to suggest in my posts that those who disagree
with me are lesser Christians, lacking in biblical fidelity, or somehow are
ignorant. I do not believe any of these things at all.
With those disclaimers made, in the rest of this post I want
to introduce you to the position to which I hold that has replaced
premillennialism. The position to which I hold now is known as amillennialism.
Defining Terms
Some of you are now thinking, “pre-what?” “a-what?”
“Tom, what in the world are you talking about?” So, let me explain.
In Revelation 20:1-6 the Apostle John speaks of a thousand
year period (vv. 2, 4, 6) in which Satan is bound so that he might not deceive
the nations (v. 2) and in which Jesus Christ reigns and saints with him (vv. 4,
6). The three major views of Christians throughout the history of the Church in
regard to the return of Jesus Christ have been defined by how they relate to
this period (the millennium) and they have been labeled accordingly. Let’s
briefly look at them.
Premillennialism
Most who hold to this position believe that this period is a
future literal 1,000 year reign of Christ and the saints on earth before the
earth and saints have been perfected (fully glorified) and a period that is
different than the new heaven and new earth of Revelation 21-22. All who hold
to this position believe Jesus Christ will return before this future 1,000 year
period, which is why it is called premillennialism.
There are three different varieties of premillennialists.
There are post-tribulational premillennialists—those who believe Jesus Christ
will return after the tribulation and before the millennium. In this position
there are some who believe the tribulation is a literal seven year period and
some who think it is not. Also, there are mid-tribulational
premillennialists—those who believe Jesus Christ will return in the middle of
the tribulation (most of these believe in a literal seven year tribulation and
a literal 1,000 reign of Christ and saints on earth). Finally, there are
pre-tribulational premillennialists—those who believe Jesus will not only
return before the 1,000 period, but also before the tribulation (most believing
both the tribulation and millennial reign are literal in their numbers).
Before we leave premillenialism, there are three more things
to say about it. To begin, many of the pre-tribulational and mid-tribulational
adherents believe that one of the key purposes of the millennium is for God to
fulfill his purposes and promises among the nation of Israel. Those who believe
this believe there is a strong distinction between Old Testament Israel and the
New Testament Church.
Another thing that needs to be said about premillennialism
is that for the history of the Evangelical Free Church of America (it was
founded in 1950), it has been an association that strongly affirms
premillennialism. Since the late 70’s it has allowed credentialed pastors to
hold to any of the three tribulational positions (pre-, mid-, or post-) as long
as they affirmed without mental reservation premillennialism.
The final point to make before leaving this position is that
there is a strong difference between post-tribulational premillennialism and
its two cousins (pre- and mid-tribulational premillennialism)—especially in how
the overall organization of the Bible is understood and how the relationship of
Israel and the Church is seen. Post-tribulational premillennialism has much in
common with Amillennialism. So, for me to switch from the former to the latter was
not a big step to take biblically, even though it put me outside of the EFCA
doctrinal statement. More about that later.
Postmillennialism
Those who hold to this position believe, as the name
suggests, that Jesus Christ will return after the millennium, which is seen as
a golden age on the earth, ushered in by the triumphant mission of the church
and the spreading of the gospel to the ends of the earth. Some
postmillennialists believe that the period is a literal 1,000 year reign, but
most do not take it as literal.
Amillennialism
In the remainder of my blog posts I will spend the vast
majority of my time on this position, the one to which I now hold. The a-
prefix on the word literally means “no” and so the wooden rendering of the
label is “no millennium.” However, it is not accurate to say that
amillennialists do not believe in what the Revelation 20:1-6 passage says about
this reign of Christ and saints, nor is it accurate to say they do not believe
in what other passages say that premillennialists interpret as describing the
millennium (e.g. Isaiah 65:17-25). What is accurate to say is that
amillennialists believe the Revelation 20:1-6 passage has nothing to do with a
reign on earth, but instead is describing a reign of Christ and saints in
heaven that runs concurrently with the present Church Age. What is accurate to
say is that most other passages premillennialists interpret as referring to the
millennium, amillennialists see as referring to the future new heaven and new
earth (Revelation 21-22). In other words, it is not first and foremost that
amillennialists disbelieve certain biblical teachings. They interpret them
differently and see the events taking place at other times.
How Many Hold To Each
Position
For those of you who are not currently confused or lost,
those still in there with me, you may be asking, “So how much of the Church
believes each position?” That is a great question. The reality is that in a
recent poll of evangelical leaders, 65% said they believe in some form of premillennialism,
4% in postmillennialism, and 13% in amillennialism.[1] It
is possible the majority of evangelicals that believe in premillennialism and
who are not leaders or pastors could be even higher. There is no question that
premillennialism is believed by the vast majority of the evangelical church.
Why is premillennialism so popular? That is hard to answer. Part of the reason,
though, has to do with the fact that premillennialists have done a better job over
the past 150 years of getting their position out in popular books and movies
and study materials.
So, I do want to say from the start that I have taken a
position that is different than the majority of evangelicals. What I will do
over the next several weeks is seek to explain to you why. However, as I do
this, I will continue to affirm that I gladly lock arms with those who disagree
with me, and I want to approach this discussion remembering that this is a
family discussion. Those with whom I disagree are my brothers and sisters in
Christ.
May God help me remember this and present my case with that
attitude!
Joyfully awaiting the blessed hope of the appearing of Jesus
Christ with you,
Tom
[1] Audrey Barrick, “Poll: What
Evangelical Leaders Believe About The End Times,” Wed., March 09, 2011, at www.Christianpost.com,
cited in Sam Storms, Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative (Scotland, UK: Mentor Imprint Of Christian Focus
Publications, 2013), 43.
