End Times, Are we really
in them?
In addition to my theological views on the
subject, I am also a panmillennialist, it will all pan out in the
end. I pray that you will read this with an open mind and heart and
then as the Bereans were commended, you will search the
Scriptures.
Throughout church history, there have been three
main views on the subject. During the last 150 years, there has been
a fourth. The three original views were Historic Premillennialism,
Amillennialism and Postmillennialism. About 150 years ago the fourth
view called Dispensational Premillennialism arose. Within each system
of belief, there are differing varieties of each. I don't believe
that differences of opinion on this subject is reason for not
fellowshipping with other believers and it should not be a cause for
dissension. It is something we should be able to study with one
another, knowing that we may never agree considering there has been
disagreement on this subject from the beginning. I pray that we can
learn to respect each others' scriptural convictions when it does not
affect the fundamentals of the faith. I personally hold to the
preterist postmillennial viewpoint.
Did other eschatological
beliefs exist in the early Church?
One argument sometimes used against other
eschatological positions is that only premillennialism existed in the
early Church. To the contrary, as the following quotes will show this
is not true. Consider Justin Martyr's response to Trypho regarding
the hope of a "thousand years in Jerusalem, which will then be
built." Justin replied: "I admitted to you formerly, that I and many
others are of this opinion, and [believe] that such will take
place, as you assuredly are aware; but, on the other hand, I
signified to you that
Many
who belong to the pure and pious faith, and are true Christians,
think otherwise." Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho the Jew
80 Another premillennialist, Irenaeus (ca. A.D. 180),
observes that "some who are reckoned among the orthodox" do not hold
to his premillennial views. There have always been differences of
opinion on end times from the earliest years of church
history.
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