| November 21, 1999 |
Vol. II, No. 30
|
[Editor’s Note: The following is an excellent article on a much-needed subject. For the sake of our readers who might not be familiar with some of the theological terms that are used we supply the following definitions:]
Premillennial – Many religious people believe that Jesus intends to return to earth, set up an earthly, political-type kingdom, and reign for a literal thousand years. This theory is based on their interpretation of Rev. 20. A premillenarian is one who believes this theory.
Amillenarian – one who believes that Rev. 20 involves signs or symbols, and that Jesus has no intention of establishing an earthly kingdom and reigning for a literal 1,000 years on earth.
Hermeneutics -- a system of Bible interpretation. The premillenarian uses what he calls a literal system of hermeneutics. The amillenarian uses a different system of interpretation, that is, a different hermeneutic.
With these definitions behind us, let us read and benefit from the following article.]
Premillenarians insist that in the "end times" Jesus will return to earth and establish a 1,000-year kingdom with headquarters in Jerusalem. We who oppose this teaching argue that Jesus is now king and that His kingdom is His church.
Why the difference? O.T. Allis gives the answer: "The question of literal versus figurative interpretation is... one which has to be faced at the very outset" (Prophecy and the Church, p. 17). So, let’s face it.
Premillennial Hermeneutics. There are four principles of the millennial method of interpretation which are penitent to our study.
LITERALISM. "Premillenarians follow the so-called ‘grammatical-historical’ literal interpretation" (Walvoord, The Millennial Kingdom, p. 59). However, Walvoord goes on the acknowledge, "Most premillenarians would agree... that obvious figurative language or instances where the New Testament gives authority for interpreting the Old Testament in other than a literal sense would be just grounds for use of the spiritualizing method" (p. 65).
So premillenarians sometimes interpret figuratively. Yet, Walvoord charges that the amillenarian uses the figurative method when he finds "it necessary to change the literal meaning of Scriptures to conform to his ideas" (p. 71).
GAP PRINCIPLE. "That principle of divine revelation whereby God in the Jewish Scriptures ignores certain periods of time, leaping over centuries without comment" (J.E. Hartill, Biblical Hermeneutics, p. 92). For example, premillenarians see a gap between weeks 69 and 70 in Daniel 9:24-27. Of course, nothing indicates this gap, and to insist on it violates rigid literalism.
HYPER-ALLEGORIZING OF OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY. Perhaps the most striking example of this is in the book of Esther. Some millennialists make Ahasuerus represent "Gentile authority," Haman stands for "latter-day enemies of restored Israel," and Mordecai symbolizes "our Lord as head of His exalted people in the millennial future" (Walter Scott, quoted by Allis, pp. 21, 22).
Once again, this approach contradicts the basic literalism of millenarians.
DOUBLE APPLICATION PRINCIPLE. Eric Sauer in "From Eternity to Eternity" claims that the present church age may "in a certain sense" indicate a "fulfillment of not a few prophecies of the old covenant," including the "Davidic," but he says there is a greater fulfillment awaiting us in the millennium (190f).
There are prophecies with a double fulfillment. 2 Sam. 7:12-16 likely refers to both Solomon and Jesus filling the throne of David. We only know of such double meanings when Scripture tells us. We dare not invent them ourselves.
BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS. We should take passages literally unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise. What is a compelling reason?
OBVIOUS LANGUAGE. We agree with Walvoord on this. For example, no one thinks Herod was literally a fox (Luke 13:32), or that John actually built roads preparing the way for Jesus (Isa. 40:3f). However, what’s obvious to one is not to another -- the book of Revelation for instance -- so we need more.
FIGURATIVE INTERPRETATION BY AN INSPIRED PERSON. Again, Walvoord, while he may not apply it consistently, makes this point. However, contra the premillenarians, we know that Jesus had already fulfilled the prophecies of filling David’s throne because Peter said so in Acts 2:29-36.
Furthermore, premillenarians have no authority here to insist on a double fulfillment. That’s only wishful thinking on their part.
TO AVOID CONTRADICTION. A literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 40-48, as per premillenarians, requires a restoration of Old Testament priests, sacrifices, etc. But this violates Heb. 7-10, with its ever living High Priesthood of Christ and His once-for-all sacrifice for sins.
In addition, to keep any part of the Law of Moses obligates us to keep it all, James 2:10, but to return to the Law is to fall from grace, Gal. 5:4.
Clearly, to have a profitable study on premillennialism requires that we do some homework on hermeneutics. I hope this brief study will get us started.
--Jim Ward 12th Street Bulletin Bowling Green, KY
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
There are at least five lessons we want to learn from the statements of Jesus in Matt. 12:40-42. Jesus said, "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here."
First, Jesus certified as true the events recorded in the book of Jonah. Jonah’s being swallowed up by a giant sea creature and deposited three days later alive on dry land was a "type" of what would occur when Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. In the study of language, a "type" is a literal, historical person or event that is meant to illustrate or foreshadow an even more important future person or event.
Second, though the scribes and Pharisees prided themselves on their righteousness, Jesus indicated that the paganistic citizens of ancient Nineveh had been more open and receptive to God’s truth. When Jonah pointed out their sins and the consequences, they had been willing to repent and seek God’s mercy. When John the Baptist and Jesus had preached the need of repentance to the people of Palestine in their day, the common people gladly heard them and responded, but the religious leaders almost unanimously rejected their message. The people of ancient Nineveh were proof that God’s message could be understood and responded to. Those who rejected Jesus were without excuse.
Third, the people of Nineveh and the queen of Sheba alluded to in verse 42, were Gentiles. Even in Old Testament times, God was interested in all His children, but His choicest blessings were poured out on the chosen race, the Hebrews through whom He would bring His Son into the world to bless all nations and potentially all families.
Fourth, at the time of the final judgment, all will be resurrected and judged. The people of ancient Nineveh, the Queen of Sheba, and the folks who lived in Palestine in the time of our Lord’s earthly ministry will face that judgment. And so will we.
Finally, Jesus is a greater prophet than Jonah and a greater king than Solomon. His words will judge us in the last day, John 12:48. It behooves us to hear and obey Him.
--CRJ