For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

Premillennialism

The study of the Premillennial doctrine of the return of Jesus has profoundly impacted the religious world. Many churches embrace one form or another of premillennialism, and many believers accept the false doctrine. The theory of premillennialism is the view that Christ’s return will usher in a future millennium of Messianic rule. Any word that ends in “ism” is generally a false doctrine.

Adherents to premillennialism believe Jesus came to earth to establish an earthly kingdom but failed. Jesus was not supposed to be killed by His own brethren but tragically rejected by the Jews and crucified by the Romans. In place of the earthly kingdom, Jesus set up the church until such a time that He could return to finish His work. The last two thousand years is called the “Church Age.”

Sometime in the future, there will be a secret rapture. Only the saints will be raptured, which means the Lord will suddenly take them. A mother fixing breakfast will disappear. The bus driver will vanish. It seems hard to believe, but one picture of the rapture has a pilotless airplane crashing into a building. Untold numbers of people will simply disappear. Following the rapture, there will be seven years of tribulation. This will be when the Jews are restored to Israel, the remnant of Israel is converted, including the rebuilding of the Temple, the establishment of the priesthood, and sacrifices are restored.

At the end of the tribulation, Jesus will return for the battle at Armageddon, the resurrection of the saints found in the tribulation and their judgment. The kingdom will be established, and Satan will be bound for one thousand years. There will be peace on earth as Christ reigns on a literal throne (of David) in Jerusalem. After the thousand-year reign of Christ, Satan is released and finally defeated. The world comes to an end, followed by the final judgment. Other theories are Post-millennial (Jesus to return after He reigns a literal or figurative one thousand years from heaven) and A-millennial (There is no literal one thousand-year reign; Jesus reigns now and can return anytime).

The problem with premillennialism is that it minimizes the church. Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:9-11 the church was the eternal purpose of God. Jesus is the head of the church (Colossians 1:13-18) and bought the church with His blood (Acts 20:28). Who can believe that the church, purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit, is accidental or by chance?

Premillennialism minimizes the gospel. The Holy Spirit revealed to His holy apostles and prophets the importance of the church (Ephesians 3:5-6). Paul declared in the final verses of Romans that the hidden mystery was made manifest in the gospel. If Jesus fails, what is the purpose of the gospel? Premillennialism is not the gospel system of things at all. It is inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus and has no purpose for the plan of salvation.

John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles taught the kingdom was at hand (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Mark 4:14-15). Jesus called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, and He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power” (Mark 9:1). Foy E. Wallace writes, “If God did not know that the kingdom was going to be postponed, it denies the omniscience of God, destroys His integrity, and impeaches the veracity of Jesus Christ.”

Premillennialism voids the great commission. It denies the last days as mentioned in Hebrews 1:1-2, Joel 2:16-17 (which is fulfilled in Acts 2:16-17), and 2 Peter 3:2. The New Testament constantly affirms the saints of the first century were living in the last days, showing that for the past two thousand years, the earth has been in the last days. One of the greatest fallacies of premillennialism is it demotes Jesus from His throne. Hebrews 1:8 says the throne of Jesus is forever. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:3,13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2). Peter said Jesus was sitting on the throne of David (Acts 2:30-32), which did not refer to a literal throne but the throne of promise. If there is a millennium on earth, Christ will not be in it.

Foy E. Wallace makes the following observations: “Why bring Christ back to earth? His mission of redemption is complete. His revelation is complete. His authority is complete. His kingdom is complete. His throne is complete. His name is complete. His glory is complete.” (God’s Prophetic Word) The church is the Bride of Christ, and He reigns as King of King and Lord of Lords. Hebrews 9:28 says Jesus will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Jesus is only coming back one more time. There will be no other opportunities for anyone to change their lives. His coming marks the end of all things.

There is no Biblical proof of a rapture, and no one will be “Left Behind.” When the Lord returns, you need to be ready. His return will be the final message of God to the world. Are you ready?