Premillennialism, Dispensationalism and the Rapture

You would not believe how many times I get asked about how the world will end. Of all my study of the Bible and religion, eschatology (the study of last things) is the branch of religion that I have studied the least, and I have done that purposefully. It is quite ironic that the issue most lay people and non-Christians want to talk to me about is the one issue I had rather avoid. Not because I think it is boring or unimportant, but because there is so much more to the Bible and to our Christian lives than trying to figure out how it will all end. There is one thing that I am certain of, and it is really all I personally need to know. . .Christ will one day return for His church and every knee will bow. That is my hope and security. Exactly how that happens is something we will never know until it happens, so I have always had a difficult time getting pumped up about studying it.

Having said that, let me write out some basic beliefs and principles here as clearly as I can. I think I will direct future questions from my friends and church members to this blog so they can just read it.

Premillennialism - This is the view, held by most Protestants, that the second coming of Christ will occur before the establishment of the millennium, which is the 1.000 year reign of Christ on earth. Premillennialists believe a tribulation period of 7 years will take place where an Antichrist will emerge and horror will be poured out upon the earth. At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus will visibly return to defeat Satan and the Antichrist and set up a millennial kingdom on earth. At the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be released and will attempt one more rebellion against God. He will be defeated once and for all and sent to the Lake of Fire for eternity.

Where things start getting confusing, and heated debates will erupt, is that there are two main forms or variations of Premillennialism. Those are Dispensational and Historic.

Dispensational Premillennialism - The two main differences between Dispensational and Historical Premillennialism is the understanding of the rapture and the emphasis given to the nation Israel. Dispensational Premillennialists believe that Christ will "rapture" his church before the beginning of the Tribulation, thus saving the believers from the wrath and torment. They also believe Israel will be saved and restored to a place of preeminence and will have a special function of service during the millennium.

Historic Premillennialism - This group denies the "pre-tribulation" rapture of the church and believes that the second coming of Christ and the rapture are all one event that will take place after the tribulation and before the millennial kingdom begins. Historic Premillennialists also believe that the nation Israel will not have a special role or function during the millennial kingdom that is different from the church.

There are also some Dispensationalists who hold to a "mid-tribulation" rapture idea, that the church will be caught up by Christ in the middle of the tribulation, after 3 1/2 years before the heavy-duty stuff begins.

Revelation 20:1-6 is where you can read about the millennial kingdom and begin studying for yourself if you so choose. Obviously, proponents of either view can quote scripture and defend their particular position. One thing, however, they will all agree on. The church will be victorious in Christ and will one day reign with Him!