If You're Not a Pre-Tribber, Do You Know the Gospel?

In this regular feature Dave and Tom respond to questions from listeners and readers of The Berean Call.Here’s this week’s question:Dear Dave and TA, I know that one’s belief about the last days doesn’t affect one’s salvation and probably shouldn’t be an issue that separates brothers and sisters in Christ.However, if someone is an amillennialist, a premillennialist, or a postmillennialist, wouldn’t that viewpoint greatly influence his or her interpretation of the New Testament?Do you see any major problems here?

Tom:

Dave, I know in our first segment, we went through Post-trib, Mid-trib, Pre-trib, Pre-wrath and all that, but let me give some definitions here of amillennialism and postmillennialism and we can talk about pre-millennialism. But a-millennialism rejects the literal or future thousand year reign of Christ.It considers that we are in the Millennium now, which is the present age of the church.It has Christ ruling from heaven victoriously by his word and spirit and it regards the Second Coming as a singular event, has no Rapture in it, but this, according to many amillennialists, there are conditions.So the Second Coming of Christ is not imminent and there is no distinction between Israel and the church.Now Postmillennialists believes that Christ will return after a long period of righteousness and peace, which is ushered in by the preaching of the gospel and the saving work of the Holy Spirit and the Millennium is symbolic. it’s not a literal thousand years and it’s going to bring about a golden age of progress in the church that transforms the world which conforms to Christian principles.And, again, like amillennialism, there’s no distinction between Israel and the church.What about premillennialists?

Dave:

Well, Premillennialism would include Pre-trib, Mid-trib, Post-trib, because that is still before the Millennium.

Tom:

Millennial reign of Christ.

Dave:

So, I think there are some big differences there.A major difference would be whether we expect the Rapture at any moment.Christ said we should have our loins gird about, our lights burning—this is Luke 12—loins gird about, our lights be burning, be ready at any moment to greet our Lord at his return.In fact, he said that a thought that he might delay his coming brings wickedness, and John said there’s no greater motivation for holy living.It purifies you to realize he could come at any moment.So I think that there is a big distinction there between Pretrib, any moment imminent return of Christ and the idea that, well, he can’t come for at least 7 years.I think that would change the way a person would live.Now, the difference between Premillennial and Amillennial or Postmillennial, and I don’t see too much difference between Amillennial and Postmillennial.Christ is coming way down there somewhere and he is never going to rule and reign on David’s throne on this earth, he’s ruling from heaven, supposedly. We’re in the Millennium.

Tom:

Isn’t Satan supposed to be bound?

Dave:

Satan is bound, I mean, in case you haven’t noticed. We must be in the slums of the Millennium because it certainly isn’t the way the Bible describes it—lion lying down with the lamb.I haven’t seen that happen lately, I think that would tell you that we’re not in the Millennium very quickly.Well, this is an idea that Augustine came up with really, in his, The City of God.These people are sometimes called Reconstructionists; they are trying to take over the world.I’ve heard Paul Crouch, on TBN for example, say we’re going to take over these airways and we’re going to do it by force if we have to.So the Christians are going to take over the schools, going to take over the government and somehow make this a godly world.

Tom:

It’s called dominionism, we’re taking dominion.

Dave:

Right, we’re going to take dominion over everything and then when we have established this kingdom, then the King will finally return.I think there’s a big difference in whether you believe one or the other of these.You believe that we are not of this world, we’re leaving this world.We are here to preach the gospel and there is no solution—we’re not going to turn this world into a godly place.The Bible says evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.If you read the book of Revelation you would have to spiritualize it away.God’s judgment is coming upon this earth.It is coming upon this earth because of the wickedness of man.There’s a very serious problem here, Tom.The Bible tells us that Christ, when he appears, and Paul talks about loving his appearing.

Tom:

Blessed hope.

Dave:

Right, blessed hope, the glorious appearing, great God our Savior, Jesus Christ, Titus:2:13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
See All....And, the Bible tells us he is going to catch us up and we meet him in the air.But these people are looking forward to a Christ, who, when he comes, their feet are planted on planet earth.

Tom:

They have already set it up for him.

Dave:

Right.He hasn’t come to take us to heaven, he’s come to rule over the kingdom that we have established.We’ve opposed abortion, we’ve opposed homosexuality, we’ve been active in politics, we got our people voted in and so forth.They’re waiting for the Antichrist literally because the Antichrist is going to come to set up a kingdom and to take over this world and he’s going to do it for a false church.So, from that standpoint, Tom, I think it is very serious.

Tom:

But to the point of fellowship, how does it relate to that, Dave?We’ve got about a minute left.

Dave:

Well, I could have fellowship with—if a person is a Christian, if he knows Christ as his Savior and Lord, then he is a brother in Christ.If he doesn’t believe in a Pretrib Rapture, I’ll explain it to him on the way up, because he’s going to get raptured whether he believes it or not.It does limit to some extent the fellowship we can have with one another in honor of the Lord.

Tom:

Especially when somebody is teaching something and trying to impose an agenda with that regard, it’s problematic.

Dave:

Right, it can cause division in the church.