An Oversimplified Summary of End Times Positions

A reoccurring theme of the Bible is people missing the work, truth, or coming of Jesus. For example, Genesis 6-8 tells the story of the flood. Let us not forget that this narrative speaks of a worldwide judgment where God only saved eight people. When we see images of the ark, we should remember the Lord's grace and realize that if we were there, we would have been among the drowned bodies.

Another example is the first coming of Jesus. How many people read the prophesies and promises and worshiped Jesus at his birth? Very, very few. We would have been among those who got it wrong if we were there. This should remind us to be humble and realize that we'll likely get the details of Jesus' second coming wrong too.

Or what about Palm Sunday? (see Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19). People cut palm branches and laid them under the donkey's feet like a red carpet. They were shouting "Hosanna!" Less than a week later, the same people shouted, "Crucify Him!" Here, the picture is about selfish desires for the wrong king, completely missing the prophecies and promises, continuing the same theme. Jesus wept over them when he saw the city. Every time I see people waving palm branches in the air on Palm Sunday (not even laying them at the feet of Jesus' donkey), I can't help but also see those same people shouting, "Crucify Him!" It's a challenge for us all. Are we like the disciples at the death and burial of Jesus, or are we like the selfish, shouting people? If we were there, we'd probably have cut our branches and laid them in the road and then wanted to crucify Jesus later that week. Praise the Lord for his grace in our misunderstandings!

These examples serve to remind us that it's easy to get it wrong. Just as so many got it wrong at Jesus' first coming, so many will get it wrong at his second coming. Let us hold to our eschatology (study of end-times) with humility.

With this in mind, where do we begin with a study of end times.

There are multiple views and many terms within the study of the end times (eschatology). Many passages get used in the discussion. I hope to offer some simple definitions and some of the Scriptures in question regarding the timing and nature of rapture within the various arguments involving a rapture. I encourage that God's Word drive your convictions.

Millennium is the word that refers to the 1,000-year reign of Jesus mentioned in Revelation 20:2-3. There are three significant views within the Church regarding when this 1,000-year reign happens.

The first view is called Amillennialism. "A" in this word means none. This view holds that there is not a 1,000-year literal reign. In this view, Revelation 20:1-10 is happening right now. Proponents of this view understand Matthew 28:18 to mean Jesus has the authority of his Kingdom with nothing left to happen before Christ's return and the eternal state. Some Amillennialists believe Christ could return at any moment, while others think there are still signs to be fulfilled before Jesus' return.

The second view is Postmillennialism. "Post" means after. The idea here is that Jesus' earthly return will happen after a millennial period, although not necessarily a literal 1,000 years. Postmillennialists hold that the gospel will advance more and more, and the world will become more and more Christian, thus ushering in the reign of Christ. At some point, Jesus will make his earthly return, there will be judgment, and the eternal state will begin.  Most Postmillennialist do not hold that Jesus' return could be at any moment as much work still needs to happen. 

The third view is called Premillennialism. "Pre" means before. Premillennialists hold that Jesus will return before his 1,000-year reign. Some believe it's a literal 1,000 years, while others think it's simply a long time. All the believers who died before Jesus' return and all those living at the time of Christ's return will be united with their resurrected bodies and reign with Jesus. During these 1,000 years, Satan will be bound. In the end, he will be released. All who remain alive but unconverted will join with Satan for a final battle against God and his people, called Armageddon. This understanding comes mainly from Revelation 20:1-10.

There are two sub-positions within Premillennialism. The first (which Grudem contents has the longest history among the millennial positions) is called Classic or Historical Premillennialism. In this view, there will be a tremendous tribulation before the return of Jesus. The believers will be God's ambassadors and witnesses through this tribulation period.  Jesus could return at any moment. 

The second sub-position within Premillennialism gained tremendous popularity in the 19th and 20th Centuries. This position is called Pretribulational Premillennialism or Dispensational Premillennialism. This view holds that Jesus' second return will come in two parts. The first part will be a secret return part-way to earth but not entirely. Citing 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, this position maintains that Jesus will snatch up all the believers from the earth for seven years, thus saving them from enduring the great tribulation. At the end of seven years, Jesus will return all the way to the earth, where he will begin his 1,000-reign.  Most who hold this view believe that Jesus could come at any moment to get his people and then the world will see him seven years after that. 

Another distinction between Historical Premillennialism and Dispensational Premillennialism is the relationship between the Church and Israel. Historical Premillennialists hold that all true believers in the Old and New Testaments are the children of Abraham. Gentiles are graphed into the people of God, or symbolically the people of Israel. Dispensational Premillennialists draw a sharp distinction between Israel and the Church. They contend that God works differently in different times or "dispensations." In the Old Testament, salvation was being a part of the nation of Israel, while in the New Testament, salvation comes from faith in Jesus. Dispensational Premillennialists believe the Church will be removed from the world before a large awaking of the Jewish people.